Thelma Prowse
Thelma
Prowse was born to Henry and Lettie (Wills) Staebler in Butte,
Montana, on September 25, 1919. She graduated from Butte High School
in 1937 and attended a business college in Spokane, Washington,
before moving to Great Falls to work for General Mills for two
years. She then returned to Butte and worked for the Anaconda
Company for ten years until marrying Ken Prowse in 1951. Her
daughter and the joy-of-her-life, Corlette, was born in 1953.
Thelma was devoted to Jesus from her earlier
days. She belonged to Grace Methodist Church as well as Aldersgate
Methodist Church, where she was a member of United Methodist Women
and served as church secretary and Sunday school treasurer for many
years. She was an active member of the Martha Rebecca Lodge for
close to 50 years, and served as treasurer of the Silver Bow General
Hospital Auxiliary. She also worked for Safeway, Montana Hardware,
and James Jewelry.
Thelma was happiest when she was pouring
herself out for others. She loved to cook for large family
gatherings, which usually ended with animated games, waves of
laughter, and warm conversation. She was devoted to Ken, gladly
accompanying him on any adventure; she would happily sit knitting in
the car while he waded trout streams in western Montana. Thelma
delighted in Corlette and welcomed every opportunity to encourage
and support her, which often resulted in driving carloads of
giggling girls from one activity to another around Butte.
Thelma overflowed with kindness and
generosity, gladly extending her heart and resources to help others.
She was absolutely dependable; once she committed to something, it
was as good as done. She had a special heart for the elderly, and
found great joy in visiting, caring for, and driving older people
around, especially her mother’s friends.
Thelma and Ken moved to Billings in 1990 to
live with their daughter’s family. Ken passed away in 1992, after 41
years of devoted marriage. Thelma went on to live in a “grandma
heaven” for nearly twenty years. She joyfully cared for her two
grandchildren, Megan and Jeff, delighting in their energy and
enthusiasm. She always had time for them, and nothing they asked was
ever too much trouble. One of her greatest joys was to have one of
them crawl into her bed during a thunderstorm and snuggle up close
to feel safe and loved.
Thelma had an abiding love for the Lord. She
faithfully met with him every morning as she read his Word,
worshipped him, and prayed for those she loved. When her health
declined and her activities outside the home diminished, she
maintained an amazingly sweet, thankful, and contented spirit that
made her a joy to live with. Her warmth, kindness, and gracious
attitude drew people in, so she enjoyed regular visits from many
friends, young and old alike, especially from her church family at
Rocky Mountain Community Church.
As her health failed in May, Thelma’s core
qualities shone more brightly than ever. She constantly sought to
encourage others, to lighten their hearts with her sense of humor,
and to convey her peace and joy at the thought of soon seeing Jesus
face to face. She passed away peacefully on May 24, 2010, in the
arms of her daughter.
Thelma was preceded in death by her parents,
Henry and Lettie, her husband, Ken, and her siblings, Roland,
Lucille, Mercedes, and Henry Staebler. She is survived by her
beloved daughter, Corlette, son-in-law, Ken Sande, grandchildren,
Megan and Jeff Sande, sister-in-law, Isabel Prowse, and nieces Lucy
Martin Gianino, Wilhemina Eaken, Georgie Richardson, Sue Steele,
Bonnie Staebler, Charlene Kautzman, and Janet Morrison.
Memorial Services will be held at Rocky Mountain Community Church, 2832 Broadwater Avenue, at 10 am on Saturday, June 5, 2010. Thelma requested that memorials be sent to Peacemaker Ministries, PO Box 81130, Billings, MT, 59108, or the charity of your choice.
Remembrances
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