Thelma was born on the family farm near Verdon, Richardson County, Nebraska, to parents John and Amelia Zentner. Thelma was one of five children: brothers Lloyd and Orville and sisters Alta and Edith. In 1921 the family relocated to a farm near Mason City, Nebraska. Like many children of her generation, Thelma endured the Great Depression on the Nebraska plains with its dust storms, bank closures, and crop failures. But Thelma always shared her strong faith with us that the Lord always provided her family with food and clothing during the hardest of times. Thelma boarded in Mason City, Nebraska to attend school and received her Normal Training Degree. After her graduation she taught at a rural school for two years.
In 1938, Thelma moved with her family to the McMinnville, Oregon, area. There she met her future husband Robert Matthew Caldwell (Bob) and the two were married in 1940 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sheridan. During World War II, she and her firstborn son, Ken, lived with her mother while Bob served in the Army until his discharge in 1946. Son Larry was born in 1947 and daughter Carol in 1950. Shortly after, Thelma and Bob purchased a small farm near Dayton, and later moved to Hopewell on the farm where Thelma remained. Bob retired in 1969 and the two spent time farming and with family and friends, fishing, camping and hosting memorable family gatherings. Bob passed away in March of 2000.
Thelma's faith was an integral part of her life. She was an active member of her Lutheran Church as a child in Nebraska, walking more than a mile to attend confirmation classes at her small church in Litchfield. She was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church in McMinnville for many years, teaching Sunday School, sharing produce and walnuts from the farm for meals and bazaars. She shared her love of music playing the piano for Sunday School opening.
Thelma is survived by sons Kenneth (Shirley) Caldwell of Texas; Larry (Susan) Caldwell of Oregon; and daughter Carol (Chris) Clark, also living in Oregon. She was devoted to her grandchildren, Michael Caldwell in Florida; Julie Caldwell in Texas; Debbie Clark and Steven Clark, both living in Oregon.
-This tribute was written by her daughter-in-law, Susan Caldwell.
In 1938, Thelma moved with her family to the McMinnville, Oregon, area. There she met her future husband Robert Matthew Caldwell (Bob) and the two were married in 1940 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sheridan. During World War II, she and her firstborn son, Ken, lived with her mother while Bob served in the Army until his discharge in 1946. Son Larry was born in 1947 and daughter Carol in 1950. Shortly after, Thelma and Bob purchased a small farm near Dayton, and later moved to Hopewell on the farm where Thelma remained. Bob retired in 1969 and the two spent time farming and with family and friends, fishing, camping and hosting memorable family gatherings. Bob passed away in March of 2000.
Thelma's faith was an integral part of her life. She was an active member of her Lutheran Church as a child in Nebraska, walking more than a mile to attend confirmation classes at her small church in Litchfield. She was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church in McMinnville for many years, teaching Sunday School, sharing produce and walnuts from the farm for meals and bazaars. She shared her love of music playing the piano for Sunday School opening.
Thelma is survived by sons Kenneth (Shirley) Caldwell of Texas; Larry (Susan) Caldwell of Oregon; and daughter Carol (Chris) Clark, also living in Oregon. She was devoted to her grandchildren, Michael Caldwell in Florida; Julie Caldwell in Texas; Debbie Clark and Steven Clark, both living in Oregon.
-This tribute was written by her daughter-in-law, Susan Caldwell.
Thelma was born on the family farm near Verdon, Richardson County, Nebraska, to parents John and Amelia Zentner. Thelma was one of five children: brothers Lloyd and Orville and sisters Alta and Edith. In 1921 the family relocated to a farm near Mason City, Nebraska. Like many children of her generation, Thelma endured the Great Depression on the Nebraska plains with its dust storms, bank closures, and crop failures. But Thelma always shared her strong faith with us that the Lord always provided her family with food and clothing during the hardest of times. Thelma boarded in Mason City, Nebraska to attend school and received her Normal Training Degree. After her graduation she taught at a rural school for two years.
In 1938, Thelma moved with her family to the McMinnville, Oregon, area. There she met her future husband Robert Matthew Caldwell (Bob) and the two were married in 1940 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sheridan. During World War II, she and her firstborn son, Ken, lived with her mother while Bob served in the Army until his discharge in 1946. Son Larry was born in 1947 and daughter Carol in 1950. Shortly after, Thelma and Bob purchased a small farm near Dayton, and later moved to Hopewell on the farm where Thelma remained. Bob retired in 1969 and the two spent time farming and with family and friends, fishing, camping and hosting memorable family gatherings. Bob passed away in March of 2000.
Thelma's faith was an integral part of her life. She was an active member of her Lutheran Church as a child in Nebraska, walking more than a mile to attend confirmation classes at her small church in Litchfield. She was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church in McMinnville for many years, teaching Sunday School, sharing produce and walnuts from the farm for meals and bazaars. She shared her love of music playing the piano for Sunday School opening.
Thelma is survived by sons Kenneth (Shirley) Caldwell of Texas; Larry (Susan) Caldwell of Oregon; and daughter Carol (Chris) Clark, also living in Oregon. She was devoted to her grandchildren, Michael Caldwell in Florida; Julie Caldwell in Texas; Debbie Clark and Steven Clark, both living in Oregon.
-This tribute was written by her daughter-in-law, Susan Caldwell.
In 1938, Thelma moved with her family to the McMinnville, Oregon, area. There she met her future husband Robert Matthew Caldwell (Bob) and the two were married in 1940 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sheridan. During World War II, she and her firstborn son, Ken, lived with her mother while Bob served in the Army until his discharge in 1946. Son Larry was born in 1947 and daughter Carol in 1950. Shortly after, Thelma and Bob purchased a small farm near Dayton, and later moved to Hopewell on the farm where Thelma remained. Bob retired in 1969 and the two spent time farming and with family and friends, fishing, camping and hosting memorable family gatherings. Bob passed away in March of 2000.
Thelma's faith was an integral part of her life. She was an active member of her Lutheran Church as a child in Nebraska, walking more than a mile to attend confirmation classes at her small church in Litchfield. She was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church in McMinnville for many years, teaching Sunday School, sharing produce and walnuts from the farm for meals and bazaars. She shared her love of music playing the piano for Sunday School opening.
Thelma is survived by sons Kenneth (Shirley) Caldwell of Texas; Larry (Susan) Caldwell of Oregon; and daughter Carol (Chris) Clark, also living in Oregon. She was devoted to her grandchildren, Michael Caldwell in Florida; Julie Caldwell in Texas; Debbie Clark and Steven Clark, both living in Oregon.
-This tribute was written by her daughter-in-law, Susan Caldwell.
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