Thelma Marie Lester

Thelma Marie Lester age 91 of New Hampton passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2024 at Linn Haven Rehab & Healthcare in New Hampton with her family by her side.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 30, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Hampton with Dan Christensen presiding.  Visitation will be held from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 30, 2024, at the church prior to the service.  Nick Flaherty, Ross Flaherty, Mark Becker, Ed Zipse, Joe Becker, Kenny Becker will be serving as pallbearers.  Sara Kowalski, Nichole Kowalski, Amanda Zipse will be serving as honorary pallbearers.

Hugeback – Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.

Thelma Marie (Wetterhus) Lester was born on February 27, 1933 in Eagle Grove, Iowa to Norwegian Immigrants Tom and Madli (Ovrehus) Wetterhus.  She was baptized and confirmed at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eagle Grove.  She attended and graduated from Eagle Grove High School in 1951.  After high school she worked at a bank in Eagle Grove.

Thelma met a boy from Goldfield at the Eagle Grove swimming pool and on March 22, 1953. She was united in marriage to Kenneth Lester at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eagle Grove. To this union, they were blessed with 5 daughters.

After marriage, Thelma and Kenny started farming by Hardy, lowa. In 1958, they moved to a farm north of New Hampton, lowa where they lived for 61 years. In 2019, they moved to Homestead Co-operative in New Hampton. Thelma loved living in the country and kept very busy on the farm. She raised her family, gardened, canned, baked and helped in the fields until their retirement in 1998. After retirement they spent winters in Arizona, swimming and hiking, until 2023. They had the best of two worlds and enjoyed the outdoors all year long.

Thelma also enjoyed time with her grandchildren in lowa, Minnesota and Arizona. She was an avid shopper and could outshop all of her daughters even with a bum knee. Lunch with the gals was a special time for her. She loved people and could carry on a conversation with anyone. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church WELCA and the Red Hats Society.

She was very proud of her Norwegian Heritage. Her parents were born and raised in Norway. She visited Norway with her sisters and Mother where they met many relatives. Her mother was the only one from her mother’s family who immigrated to America. She brought many goodies to family gatherings, but Kringla was her Norwegian specialty. Nordic Fest in Decorah was an annual event. She attended as often as she could and many times with family. She never drove past a scandinavian shop without stopping.  She was also an avid Iowa Hawkeye and Minnesota Viking fan and always loved to watch the games.

Thelma is survived by her husband Kenneth of 71 years: her 5 daughters: Diane Kowalski of Mesa, Az, Jan (Jim) Flaherty of Montevideo, MN, Susan Becker of Clear Lake, IA, Teresa (Gary) Becker of Alexandria, MN, and Karen (Wally) Peters of Maplewood, MN; Grandchildren: Sara Kowalski and Nichole Kowalski of Mesa, AZ, Nick (Tamara) Flaherty of Big Lake, MN, Ross (Breanna) Flaherty of Renville, MN, Amanda (Ed) Zipse of Clear Lake, IA, Mark (special friend Mary Franken) Becker of Ventura, IA, Adam (Katie) Becker of Lake Winnebago, MO, Joe (Hanna) Becker of Garfield, MN, Kenny Becker of Lees Summit, MO. Great grandchildren: Tristyn Brown, Lucas, Keegan and Brynn Flaherty, Jamison and Layla Flaherty, Alistair and Ava Zipse, Layla and Logan Becker, Tate and Myles Becker. Sister and brother-in-law Elizabeth and Roy Azinger of Mesa, AZ. Nieces and nephews: Dean Schipull, Kolleen Schipull, Jodi (David) Scott, Jill (Mitch) Lewey, Julie (Steve) Lang, Rick (Chris) Lester and Scott (Peggy) Lester.

Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, sister and brother-in-law Kristine and Don Schipull, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Don and Kay Lester, brother-in-law-Jerry McCallister, nephews David Schipull, Curtis Lester and David Lester.

The family would like to give a special thanks to Linn Haven Rehab & Healthcare and St. Croix hospice for their continued care, support, and respect.

641-394-4334