LuDean was born September 29, 1928, in Cache Valley, Utah to Ellis William Nielsen and Edna Elfreda Marcusen, and was the second daughter of five daughters.

LuDean grew up in Hyrum and graduated from South Cache High School. She graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She majored in Art and minored in Speech and Drama.

LuDean served an LDS mission in the Central States Mission, which included Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma, from 1950-1952.

After returning home from her mission, LuDean married Carl W. Thorstensen in the Logan, Utah temple. He served in the army, and they were stationed in Germany after WWII.

LuDean earned an Elementary Teaching Certificate from the Utah State Board of Education. When they returned from Germany they settled in Ogden and started their family. They had three daughters and while they were young, Ludean taught 2nd Grade for several years at Lynn Elementary School in Ogden. She loved teaching there and teaching Relief Society for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Teaching was a joy throughout her life and she had a special gift to teach.

LuDean was always positive and had a natural quick sense of humor. She was loving, kind, a peacemaker, selfless, gentle, and faithful to the end in her love of her family and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

LuDean is survived by Renette Meibos (Ken), Shezelle Perry (Steve), and Janae Thorstensen, and sisters Geri Leishman (Gary) and Deanne Rubin (Allen).

LuDean is preceded in death by her parents and sisters Doreen Nielsen and Joleen Giles.

We want to thank all the wonderful people from A Plus Healthcare at Home.

The funeral will be on Friday, August 14th at 1:00 P.M. with a viewing from 11:30-12:40 at the LDS church at 770 15th Street in Ogden.