Thelma Dahl, 90
Thelma Noretta Engen Dahl, age 90, died Tuesday, February 28, 2012, at Knute Nelson home in Alexandria, where she had resided since May of 2010.
- Thelma Dahl
Thelma Noretta Engen Dahl, age 90, died Tuesday, February 28, 2012, at Knute Nelson home in Alexandria, where she had resided since May of 2010.
Thelma was born August 18, 1921 in a prairie home near Enchant, Alberta. She lived there with her parents, Theodore and Nellie (Iverson) Engen and her older brother Melvin until she was 3 years old. By that time, a prolonged and severe Alberta drought had taken its toll on the family and they returned to Minnesota in hopes of a fresh start.
Thelma attended several rural schools in the Elbow Lake area and, much to her regret, did not have the opportunity to continue beyond the 8th grade. She loved school and couldn’t understand why anyone would complain about the opportunity to learn. Thelma attended confirmation classes under the instruction of the Rev. O.G. Aasen and was confirmed on May 26, 1935.
In October of 1942, Thelma was united in marriage to Donald O. Dahl. The ceremony took place at Ness Lutheran Church in Elbow Lake when Donald was home on a brief military furlough from his duties as a sergeant in the United States Army Air Corps. When the war ended and Donald was discharged, Don and Thelma entered into farming by first renting and then buying a farm. For 30 years, they made their home on the farm two miles southwest of Elbow Lake. Thelma was a working partner in most every aspect of farm life, but she especially made her mark by way of her sewing, gardening, baking and cooking skills. She had grown up under the theme of “use it up, wear it out, make it do.”
In addition to her skills on the farm and in the house, Thelma found time to serve in the community by way of her work at church with Sunday school, Release Time classes, Dorcas, Stephen Ministry, LDR and ULCW. She was proud to be a member of United Lutheran Church and spent countless hours there helping carry out the great commission given by her Lord Jesus Christ.
Thelma loved her family and enjoyed the broad company of people she came to know through her many connections. She was a great wife, mother, grandmother and neighbor. In every setting that came to her, she made friends and made a positive difference. She played a good game of Scrabble and performed well above her formal 8th grade spelling lessons.
Family members who grieve the loss but celebrate her life include her five children, Kathleen (Craig) Damstrom of Alexandria, Robert (Lois) Dahl of Marshall, Beverly (Larry) Bowers of Montevideo, Charlotte (Wayne) Lehne of Appleton and Dawn (David) Cooper of Alexandria; 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, Brenda (Timothy) Dahle and children Amanda, Zachary, Alyssa, Nicholas; Shana (Hans) Zahrbock and children Sadie and Simon; Scott (Amy) Damstrom and children Anderson and Pressly; Teisha (Paul) Hohn and children Luke and Ella; Kristi (Travis) Bruyer and children Tucker and Zoey; Lynn (Craig) Helgeson and children Kendra and Kaden; Jonathan (Sarah) Dahl and children Sawyer and Annika; Christopher Lehne; Andrew Lehne and children Charlie and Jacob; Justin Damstrom; Matthew (Kathryn) Cooper; Charles Cooper; sister-in-law, Doris Hagenson; and nieces, Diane, Cheryl and Julie.
Thelma was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; parents, Theodore and Nellie Engen; and brothers, Vernon and Melvin Engen. Blessings on the memory of Thelma!
Funeral services for Thelma were held Monday, March 5 at United Lutheran Church in Elbow Lake with the Rev. Bob Toso officiating. Burial was at Ness Cemetery in Elbow Lake.
Thelma’s grandson, Christopher Lehne, was organist for the service, and her grandchildren served as casket bearers.
Condolences may be directed to www.EricksonSmithFH.com.
Arrangements are with Erickson-Smith Funeral Home in Elbow Lake.
A00009B2012MR07
Tags: obituaries
Comments posted on this page do not reflect opinions of Forum Communications Company. Forum Communications Company does not endorse and is not responsible for any statement, opinion, advice given or made. All replies are subject to approval and must follow Forum Communications Company guidelines concerning statements of libel, personal attacks or defamation of character. Replies in the "Talk About It" section that criticize a person by name may not be posted, unless that person is openly involved in a public issue. Comments written in all capital letters or bold print will not be considered for inclusion in the forum.
RSS Feeds