RIGGINS, Thelma (SCHAFER)

SCHAFER, RIGGINGS, WOODS, WIELE, ALLEN, FREDERICK, LANGFALD, ALLEN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 5/9/2016 at 16:44:19

Obituary ~ Thelma (Schafer) Riggins
March 19, 1920 ~ March 28, 2016

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa

Thelma Riggins, 96, of Dougherty, passed away on March 28, 2016, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City. Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 2, 2016, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Greene with Pastor Irving Sandberg officiating. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Greene. Visitation will be for 4-6 p.m., Friday, April 1, 2016, at Retz Funeral Home, 519 N. First St. Greene and will continue one hour before services at the church on Saturday.

Thelma was born in Greene, Iowa, on March 19, 1920, the daughter of Otto Adam and Phyllis May (Woods) Schafer and died on March 28, 2016, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City. She received her education in public school graduating from Marble Rock High School in 1938.

She was a lifelong member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Greene. She was baptized on January 2, 1921 and confirmed on June 9, 1935. Thelma served as President of the Luther League from February 1944 until November of 1945 and was willing to share her talents in various other capacities over the years.

Thelma was united in marriage to Melvin Albert Riggins on November 7, 1945, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Greene. This union was blessed with two children, Joyce and Randy. The family made their home on a farm near Aredale later moving to her great-grandfather’s century farm near Dougherty which has been in the family since 1857. She kept a spotless house and lived in her own home all her life, most recently with the assistance of her son, Randy.

Thelma like antiques of all kinds. She enjoyed cooking and baking for family and friends. She was known for her made from scratch pies and her delicious angel food cakes. Most enjoyable to her, however, was the time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Thelma was a member of the Friendly Circle since its beginning in 1936. This was a country group of local women that enjoyed getting together on a regular basis. She prided herself on being a lady and always looking her best.

Living family members include her two children: Joyce Kay (Darrel) Wiele and Randy Keith Riggins, both of Dougherty; two grandchildren: Michael Wayne Allen and James William Frederick (Ashley) Wiele; three great-grandchildren: Kelsey Kay Langfald, Jared Michael Allen, and Josephine Rodene Pearl Allen; One great great-grandchild, Eion Dean Lanfald; one brother: Duane (Barbara) Schafer, of Waterloo; 5 sisters-in-law: Ramona Schafer and Gail Schafer both of Greene; Barbara Schafer of Mesa, AZ; Lee Schafer of Havana, IL; Rosie Riggins, Allison; many nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin in 1989; grandson, David Dean Allen; her parents; 4 brothers: Gordon, Harold, Lyle and Raymond Schafer.

Memorials may be directed to the Thelma Riggins Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 219, Greene, Iowa, 50636.

Retz Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2016

Cerro Gordo Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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