Thelma L. Guthrie

Thelma Lucille Guthrie, 85, of Long Prairie, formerly of the Spring Lake area, passed away on Sunday, November 23, 2003 at the Long Prairie Memorial Hospital.

She was born May 12, 1918 near Hopkinton, Iowa to Alonzo and Alda (Sheppard) Grapes. Along with her two brothers, Eldon and Bernard, the family lived on different farms in Delaware County.

In 1930 they moved to Strawberry Point, Iowa, where Thelma finished her last seven years of school and graduated from Strawberry Point High School in May 1935.

From there the family moved to Edgewood, Iowa where Thelma did housekeeping, clerked at the Drug Store and Hardware Store. She would go on to receive her Normal Training Certificate and began teaching country school near Ryan.

Her first school was the Sheppard School, the same school her mother attended. From there she taught at the Guthrie School, three miles west of Ryan, the area that her mother lived and coincidentally knew the Guthries. This is where she met her future husband Wallace.

She was united in marriage to Wallace Guthrie on Feb. 18, 1939 in Mason City, Iowa. After a short stay in Cedar Rapids, the couple moved to Kiester where their first two children Arthur and Lonnie were born.

In 1943 they bought a farm in West Union where their daughter Gloria was born. They made their home in many places including Clarks Grove, Albert Lea and eventually east of Cambridge in February 1951. The addition of son Thomas and daughter Deborah made the family complete.

They farmed in east Cambridge and in 1976 Wallace passed away. Thelma tried to continue running the farm alone but found it too difficult and was forced to sell.

Thelma was a member of Spring Lake Lutheran Church. She enjoyed quilting and especially spending time with her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Wallace, brothers Eldon and Floyd ìBarneyî Grapes, sons-in-law James Sutherland and Craig Lindquist, grandchildren James Sutherland Jr. and Tiffany Lindquist.

Thelma is survived by children Arthur (Diane) Guthrie of McGregor, Lonnie (Kathy) Guthrie of Swanville, Gloria (Byron) Yerigan of McGregor, Lynn (Marnie) Guthrie of North Branch, Tom Guthrie of Isanti, Deborah (Ken) Geller of Cook, 21 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 26, from Spring Lake Lutheran Church with Rev. Tim Bjorge officiating. Howard Doble, accompanied by Alice Sjoquist, provided the special music.

Pallbearers were grandsons Dave, Don, Ronald, Aaron and Jesse Guthrie, Tony and Luke Sutherland and Kyle Lindquist. Honorary pallbearers were granddaughters Dori Johnson, Kelly Payne, Leslie Bruce, Rebecca Guthrie, Beth Bird, Amy Guthrie, Lisa Sutherland, Angela Johnson, Dodee Horgen, Deanna Yerigan, Jennifer Lindquist, Korey Geller and Tiffany Roloff.
Interment was in the Spring Lake Lutheran Cemetery.
Arrangements were with the Carlson-Labatte Funeral Home in Cambridge.

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com