Elaine M. Bakalyar Thiesen 1923-2004

THIESEN, BAKALYAR, STINAR, SLATTON, POWERS

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 3/5/2012 at 22:19:11

Elaine M. Thiesen, 81
Funeral services for Elaine M. Thiesen of Estherville, Iowa, were held Monday morning, Nov. 15, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Estherville, Iowa, with Pastor Glenn S. Bohmer and Pastor Marc Powers officiating. Elaine M. Thiesen died on Nov. 12, 2004, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Estherville, Iowa. Burial was in East Side Cemetery in Estherville.

Casket bearers were Elaine’s grandson, Brent Thiesen, Ryan Thiesen and John Hoff; and her nephews, Terry Bakalyar, Bruce Bakalyar, Paul Bakalyar and Lynn Smith. Music was provided by organist Janet Murphy and Myleen Swanson. Henry-Olson-Fuhrman Funeral Home of Estherville handled the funeral arrangements.

Elaine M. Bakalyar, daughter of John and Anna (Stinar) Bakalyar, was born on March 12, 1923, near Lakefield, Minn. She received her education in the Lakefield schools. She worked as a 'Rosie the Riveter' at Douglas Aircraft in Tulsa, Okla.

On Sept. 19, 1950, she was united in marriage to Bud Thiesen in Lakefield. The couple lived in Lakefield where she worked as a telephone operator for Central Telephone. Bud and Elaine then moved to Estherville. Elaine was an accomplished seamstress and an employee of Hall's Craft Center in Estherville. Elaine was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Ruth Circle and Aquiscilla Club in Estherville.

Left to cherish Elaine’s memory are her husband, Bud Thiesen of Estherville; four children, Candy and husband Doug Slatton of Denison, Texas, Jeff Thiesen of Milford, Iowa, Mike and wife Lolly Thiesen of Shakopee; and Jan and wife Tara Thiesen of Balbriggan, Ireland; 12 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one sister, Lucille and husband Harry Powers of Claremore, Okla.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and six sisters and seven brothers: John M. 'Jack', Emma, Andrew, Mary, Alice, Mildred, Daniel, Esther, Albert, Leonard, Gladys, Marvin and Earl. (Jackson County Pilot, Jackson, MN, November 19, 2004)