Thonglian Voutsalath was born on March 15, 1936, in Vientiane, Laos to Tong and Ohn Voutsalath. She received her education in Elementary School in Laos. After her schooling, Thonglian helped take care of her family. She was married to Duhju Shie. The couple owned and operated a store. Thonglian's husband preceded her in death in 1975. In 1976, Thonglian moved with her four children to Thailand and lived four years in a refugee camp. In March of 1980, she and her children came to America and settled in Titonka, Iowa, where she worked as a nursing assistant, was a housekeeper and baked various items to sell. Thonglian and her family moved to Wells, Minnesota in 1986, where she worked for Swift-Eckrich meat processing company. In 1991 the family moved to Algona, Iowa and Thonglian worked at Britt, Iowa for Armour Meat Processing Company.
Thonglian was a member of the Good Hope Lutheran Church in Titonka. She enjoyed gardening and fishing, but her greatest love was her children and grandchildren.
Thonglian died on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, Iowa. She was 70.
Thonglian is survived by her children, Pon Voutsalath and husband Xay Boualouang, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, Pat Loeschen and husband, Gary, Forest City, Iowa, Det Bossany and husband, Robert, Prior Lake, Minnesota and Mesai Voutsalath and special friend Melissa Hintz, Denver, Colorado. Also surviving are 5 grandchildren and her brother, Pawloong Voutsalath, Roi Et, Thailand. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and 7 brothers and sisters.