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Member Washington
State Nonprofits
Washington State Patrol
Memorial Foundation
P.O. Box 901, Prosser WA 99350 /wspmemorialfoundation@gmail.com / 360.597.4411
Patrolman Irving M. Thorsvig
Irving Thorsvig was born on September 21, 1899, in Everett, WA, to Andrew and Jeannie Thorsvig, who immigrated to the United States from Norway. Thorsvig’s father owned a brickyard in Woodinville and raised the family in Everett where Thorsvig attended school.
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While still enrolled at Everett High School, 17 year-old Thorsvig joined the National Guard in 1916, in the midst of World War I. He joined Battery D of the 63rd Artillery and was mobilized to Fort Casey on Whidbey Island for training. The unit was deployed to France in 1918, arriving just as World War I ended.
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Thorsvig was discharged from the military in the fall of 1918, at the rank of Private First Class and returned to help manage his father’s brickyard. He married Claire Olive Hambridge on December 17, 1919. The couple had two daughters: Gloria and Patricia.
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Though discharged from the military, Thorsvig continued serving his community after being commissioned with the Washington State Highway Patrol on February 13, 1926, under the authority of Chief William Cole.
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Trooper Thorsvig died on October 26, 1926, at the age of 26. Trooper Thorsvig died from his injuries 27 days after his motorcycle slipped on the brick surface of the old Bothell-Seattle highway, where a handle bar struck him in the chest. At first, it was believed to be a minor chest injury and later a bruised lung, but developed into a serious lung problem. His mother took him to Los Angeles, but he died before reaching a sanitarium. At the time of his death, Trooper Thorsvig had served only nine months with the Washington State Patrol.
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His daughter, Gloria, was five at the time of her father's death, and Patricia was six years old. Both Gloria and Patricia passed away in 2014.
Gloria had six children and the Memorial Foundation has been in contact with a son, Irving, who is a dentist in Pasadena, California, and a daughter, Claire, who lives in Portland, Oregon. Patricia had two children, Ty, who lives in Seattle, and Gloria.
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Hal Thorsvig attended the 2016 Memorial Dinner as our guest. His grandpa, Harold, was Trooper Thorsvig's brother. Harold passed away in 2018.
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On May 20, 2016, a dedication ceremony of the memorial to honor and remember King County Troopers was held at the Bellevue District Office. When you visit the Bellevue District Office, take a moment to stop by the beautiful memorial that was created in remembrance of King County Troopers.
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Please take a moment to remember Trooper Irving Thorsvig and his family.
Thorsvig was discharged from the military that fall with the rank of Private First Class and returned to help manage his father’s brickyard. He married Claire Olive Hambridge on December 17, 1919. The couple had two daughters: Gloria and Patricia. Though discharged from the military, Thorsvig continued serving his community by seeking a commission with the Washington State Highway Patrol on February 13, 1926, under the authority of Chief William Cole.
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In the official minutes of a 1926 Patrolmen’s Meeting, Washington State Highway Patrolman Irving Thorsvig was eulogized:
“Whereas the Supreme ruler of the Universe has seen fit in his infinite wisdom to remove from our midst… Officer Irving Thorsvig… we feel we have lost a beloved brother officer and companion who was held in the highest esteem by every member of the Patrol…” 94 years later, those words still echo in the hearts of the men and women of the Washington State Patrol.
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Memorial dedicated to Trooper Irving M. Thorsvig, located at the Bellevue District Office.
Flowers were placed on Patrolman Irving Thorsvig's gravesite and District 2 memorial today to honor his 95 year anniversary.
Thank you to Captain Mead, Lieutenant Glover, Lieutenant Knoll and Sergeant Zimmer for your assistance honoring our fallen.