Visitation: 2-5 p.m. on Friday, October 31, at the Rush Funeral Home in Philip Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 1, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Midland.
Interment: Midland Cemetery.

• We are sorry to hear of your loss. Our deepest sympathies are with you in this difficult time.
  Bruce, Lynn (Schofield)Dunker and family ~ Lynn Dunker Wall, SD (10/25/2008)
• Thelma was a wonderful person. You are in our thoughts and prayers. ~ Bob, Kathy (Larson) and Garrett LaDue 9802 Dutch Creek Drive Anamosa, IA (10/25/2008)
• Mickey,Shorty & family,
  Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time.
  God Bless,
  ~ Nicki & Wes Midland (10/25/2008)
• In the summers between a couple of my years of college, I worked the front desk of the Senechal Hotel here in Philip, almost always the graveyard shift, and Thelma was the one who always came to relieve me in the mornings when my shift got over. So I got to know her a little then, & I have always had respect for her & enjoyed our visits those many years ago. I know she will be missed by all who knew her. My thoughts & prayers are with you all as you go thru this time of loss.
  Deb ~ Deb Smith Philip, SD (10/25/2008)
• Thelma has always been an inspiration to myself and my teenage son, LeRoy. We both read her books and corresponded off and on in letters over the last several years. Three weeks ago we sent her personal journals to her along with some christian tracks we'd found while helping to clean out the old house she lived in while in Midland. She was the one that inspired me to write my own book. She will be greatly missed! Our prayers are with the family during this time. Jill and LeRoy ~ Jill and LeRoy Evans Midland, SD (10/25/2008)
• Deanna,Faye and Families: Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time. What a wonderful person Thelma was and how many good memories I have of her. Staying with you, Deanna and Faye in the house in Midland, riding along with my Dad, Hank, when he went to see Thelma and Curt, whom he always considered "the best of friends." Your Mom was so talented. I ejoyed a visit with her at her home in Midland, just shortly before she moved to live with you. How glad I am that I stopped that day. I have thought of her often over the past years. Know that she is safe in Heaven now with your Dad and they are both watching over you.
  Julie (Schofield) McLaughlin ~ Larry and Julie McLaughlin Midland, SD (10/25/2008)
• Thelma
  I have a lot of great memories that I will never forget. My first big trip was going to Minnesota with Dad and Mom to see Thelma, Curt, Faye and Deanna. I remember when all of you would come out to our house and all of the fun we would have, like us boys always trying to show off. I loved the holidays that we spent together and all of the great food like pies and cake and ice cream! Thelma had a big influence in my life, the advice she gave my when I would ask her was always real and from the heart. The greatest gift that was left for me from Thelma was the day Jean, Jill and I went to Midland to look through things to see if we could find any treasures that we would like. When I walked through the door of the house something told me to turn to the right. I looked at a small end table and on top of it was a big brown envelope with my name on it! When I opened it I found all kinds of pictures of my older brothers and I when we were younger, riding horses, cutting winter wheat,etc. But the biggest surpise was a short story that Thelma had wrote about me. I think someone had a hand in pointing me straight to this treasure that means so very much to me. I will always remember Thelma as being a very important person not only in my life, but many many other peoples lives.
  Randall Curt Martin ~ Randy Martin Philip S.D. (10/25/2008)
• Deanna,Kyle and December, Faye, Fuzz and Mickey
  I enjoyed knowing your mother and sister. She was such a talented and interesting person. I thoroughly enjoyed her books and have read parts of them many times. She was a quiet person when I was around her, with a delightful sense of humor. She will be missed. May you find peace in knowing she is in God's loving care.
  ~ Morris and Barbara Jones Midland (10/25/2008)
• Deanna, Kyle, December, Faye, Doug , I was very saddened to hear that Aunt Tim had passed away. My thoughts and prayers are with you. It is never an easy thing to loose a parent. I know that she is reunited with her loved ones who have gone before. Aunt Tim was a very special person to me, godmother, friend, and aunt. I spent a lot of time with her and Leona as a young person I will never forget the horseback rides, leather work, and just plain great conversations. I am grateful to have had her in my life. She has left us all a legacy in her books as in the touching of our lives. I especially appreciated her encouragement when dealing with my own recent health issue. I will miss her greatly. ~ Kandace Nelsen 241 N Meyer Lane (10/25/2008)
• We want to express our sympathy and prayers during this time. I am so thankful that Thelma took the time to write the books she did on our family because it leaves us a great legacy to go to and learn about the early days of the Martin family. Thelma has always reminded me of my Dad so much not only in the way that they look alike but how they are quiet and reserved and very funny at the same time! Thelma lived a very exciting and rewarding life and I don't think she would have had it any other way.
  Our prayers are with you, Jon and Jennifer Jones and family ~ Jon and Jennifer Jones Midland, (10/25/2008)
• To Thelma's Family,
  
  I am sorry to learn of the death of Thelma. She is someone I have known my entire life. When I was a little girl, she would come to the Forest City, Iowa area and jump horses in local horse shows there. My mom and dad, Forest and LaVonne Olson, my grandmother Luella Anderson, and other relatives are mentioned in her books. Leona was the oldest, and I am the youngest of all the first cousins on the Anderson side of the family. Also, Thelma's Aunt Tina was married to my great Uncle Charley. We enjoyed a couple of trips to Midland,South Dakota when I was young, and when I graduated from college, I settled in Sioux Falls. After that, I got to Midland once in a while, and Thelma stayed with us in Sioux Falls while there for an authors' conference at the Center for Western Studies. We kept in touch at Christmas until she moved from Midland, and I no longer had an address. Deanna and Faye and others, you have my sympathy. Thelma was a strong, quiet, independent, gentle woman whom I greatly admired. I'm glad she left a legacy with her books.
  With sympathy,
  Jane Olson Leonhardt, husband Rob, & children Ross and Rachel ~ Jane Olson Leonhardt Sioux Falls, South Dakota (10/25/2008)