Thelma M. Otterholt, Decorah, IA/formerly Janesville  (1916 - 2013)

August 30, 1916 - February 24, 2013
Thelma Marion Otterholt died Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, at Aase Haugen Home at age 96. Thelma was born Aug. 30, 1916, in Spring Valley, WI, the daughter of Theodore and Mali (Thompson) Thompson. She graduated from the public schools at Spring Valley, and from Luther Hospital School of Nursing in Eau Claire, WI. She was united in marriage with Dr. Erland R. Otterholt of Chetek, WI, on March 27, 1943, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Spring Valley. After they were married, they lived in Los Angeles, CA, Munich and Stuttgart, Germany, before settling in Janesville, WI. In 1999, they moved to Decorah, IA. Thelma moved to the Aase Haugen Home in Decorah, in November 2007. She was a member of First Lutheran Church in Janesville, and had been an active member of Sons of Norway, Nordland Lodge #544 and several other Norwegian heritage organizations. She loved genealogy and was an accomplished lifelong artist, devoting much time to creating oil and watercolor paintings.
Thelma is survived by her son, Gary; her daughter, Karen (James) Ehrie, both of Decorah; two granddaughters, Kjersti (special friend Arianne Tange) of Middelburg, The Netherlands, and Mari (Greg) Lewey of Decorah; two great-granddaughters Raquel and Sophia Lewey of Decorah; and nephews; and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Erland, on Feb. 14, 2000; a sister, Birgitte Hanson; six brothers-in-law; and five sisters-in-law.
Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 2, 2013, at FJELSTUL FUNERAL HOME in Decorah, IA, with Rev. Stacey Nalean –Carlson officiating. Burial will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday March 2, in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Spring Valley, WI.
Visitation begins on Saturday at 9 a.m., one hour before services, at the funeral home. FJELSTUL FUNERAL HOME in Decorah, and KEEHR FUNERAL HOME in Spring Valley, are serving the family.
Online condolences may be made at www.fjelstul.com
Memorials may be given to Aase Haugen Home, 4 Ohio Street, Decorah, IA 52101; Glenwood Lutheran Church, 1197 Old Stage Road, Decorah, IA 52101; First Lutheran Church, 612 N. Randall Avenue, Janesville, WI 53545; or Rotary Botanical Gardens, 1455 Palmer Drive, Janesville, WI 53545.