Thelma Heltzel

Thelma Heltzel, age 95, of Philip, South Dakota, died on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at the Scotchman Living Center in Philip.

 

Thelma Marie Patton was born March 21, 1928, in Pierre, South Dakota, the daughter of Mable (Grotta) and Patrick Patton. Thelma grew up in northern Haakon County and attended grade school in a rural one room school. She attended Philip High School graduating as valedictorian in 1946. She attended Black Hills Teachers College in Spearfish for two summers and taught in rural schools for four years. The first and last years at the Rogers School where she had gone to grade school. She was president of the Haakon County Teachers for two years.

On June 11, 1950, Thelma married James “Jim” Heltzel at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip. They spent the first five years on a farm northeast of Philip until moving into Philip. To this union 10 children were born, five girls and five boys.

Thelma worked briefly at the Senechal Hotel, Burns Brothers Truck Stop, and 21 years as a Nurses Assistant at the Philip Nursing Home, a job she loved. She also delivered rural mail on her husband’s contract between Philip and Kadoka for 13 years.

Thelma and Jim spent 11 winters in Sun City, Arizona. Upon Jim’s death on October 22, 2002, she sold her condo in Arizona and spent the rest of her years in Philip enjoying her church, the Bad River Senior Citizens Center (where she was secretary), the Hospital Auxiliary, the Legion Auxiliary (where she was secretary), and Friends of the Library. Thelma was the last surviving charter member of the Bad River Senior Citizens Center, where she spent many happy hours playing cards with her many close friends.

Thelma is survived by her nine children; John of Philip, Marie (Butch) Pederson of Black Hawk, Donald (Sue) of Burleson, Texas, Carol (Matt) Torrey of Rapid City, Beth (Dan) Davidson of Boise, Idaho, Wendy Heltzel of Rockport, Texas, David (Rona) of York, Nebraska, Tom (LeAnn) of Sun City West, Arizona, and Kate (Bennie) Heltzel of Lincoln, Nebraska; 18 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; a sister Patty Fonseca; two sisters-in-law Maggie Lou and Dorothy Heltzel; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband Jim, Thelma was preceded in death by her oldest son Pat; grandson Mark Pederson; her parents; sisters Irene Stoeser and Kathy Pfeifle; brothers John, Philip, Bill, and Robert; brothers-in-law Kenneth, LeRoy, Philip, and Gene Heltzel, Alex Stoeser, and Ralph Fonseca; sisters-in-law Marty, Lois, and Dottie Patton; daughter-in-law Carol Heltzel; nephews Mike Stoeser, Steve and Allen Pfeifle; and nieces Laurie Dalton and Linda Stoeser.

Cards and memorials may be sent to P.O. Box 105 Philip, SD 57567.

Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip, with a Christian Funeral Vigil at 7:00 p.m.

A Christian Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 10, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip, with Fr. Grant Gerlach as celebrant.

The Christian Funeral Committal will take place at the Masonic Cemetery in Philip.

 

Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Philip.