James Thorsted

J ames Randall Thorsted

November 1, 1952 ~ May 11, 2014

James Randall Thorsted, 61, passed away on Sunday, May 11, 2014.  He was born on November 1, 1952, the son of LeRoy Harold and Alice Ezma Randall Thorsted. Randy was raised in Ogden and graduated from Ogden High School and attended Weber State University.

Randy married his sweetheart, Edris “Eddie” Greenwell on August 31, 1985. They were later sealed together, along with their son, Chris, for time and all eternity on July 2, 1987 in the Ogden LDS Temple. Randy and Eddie moved to North Ogden and later moved to Pleasant View where they have lived for the last 16 years.

He belonged to the Pleasant View 11 ^th Ward, Pleasant View South Stake.  He held numerous church positions including, High Priest Group Leader, Young Men’s Counselor, Scout Master, and Stake Provident Living Leader.  He loved Scout Camp and High Adventure Outings.

Randy’s passion in life was creating really good food, properly prepared.  He was a Certified Executive Chef, a Certified Food Management Professional, and a Certified ServSafe Manager and Instructor.  He managed Ye Lion’s Den Restaurant during the early 1980’s and then purchased the business in 2001 with his wife as his business partner.  He was known to have the best Prime Rib anywhere!  He also owned and operated Food for Thought Café in North Ogden from 1988 to 1992. He had been a volunteer participant in the “Real Men Can Cook” fundraiser for the YCC of Ogden for the past 10 years.

He was a past member of Ducks Unlimited, ACF Beehive State Chef’s Chapter, and the Utah Restaurant Association. He belonged to the Pintail Duck Club, the National Rifle Association, the Boy Scouts of America, and lately the Front Sight Firearms Training Institute. He was a Range Officer for the Wasatch Shooters Association.

Randy was an avid outdoorsman and loved the mountains, lakes, and especially fly-fishing streams. He loved to ski and was a ski instructor at Snow Basin in his younger years. He loved to hunt, fish, hike, camp, and teach his children and the youth of his ward his passion for outdoor activities and enjoying God’s magnificent creations.

As a child, he was a little rascal; as an adult, Randy was always willing to serve others.  He greatly loved his grandmother and selflessly devoted himself to caring for her in her later years.  He currently was caring for his mother with steady patience and vigilant attention.  He held his extended family together by carrying on many holiday traditions with his delicious cooking.  He utilized the same diligence and passion for feeding people excellent food in his latest position as the Director of Dining Services at Country Pines Retirement Community in Clinton.  He loved to teach his culinary skills to his children, nieces, those who he employed, and any others who sought knowledge and expertise from him. At the end of Thanksgiving dinner, he never once failed to say, “It takes two days to prepare and 15 minutes to eat.”

He was a devoted husband, father, brother, and son. He not only left a huge hole in his family, but also in his ward family and community.

Randy is survived by his loving wife, Eddie; son, Christopher Randall Thorsted; daughters, Kathryn Anne (Richard) May, Dannelle (Ryan) Holding, and Erika (Rodney) Biggs; three grandchildren; mother, Alice Thorsted Cawley; sisters, Laney Lamie, Alison (Jerry) Wilhelmi; and his cherished nieces, Dani, Emily, and Lauren.

He was preceded in death by his father, grandparents, and niece Noelle.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the Pleasant View 11 ^th Ward Chapel, 500 West 3100 North.  Friends may visit with family on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s North Ogden Mortuary, 2140 N. Washington Blvd. and Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.

Interment, Ben Lomond Cemetery, North Ogden.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.org/donate/ would be greatly appreciated.