Thielman, Sarah J. 1854-1924

THIELMAN, BLACK

Posted By: Linda Ziemann
Date: 5/28/2004 at 17:31:26

TRIBUTES PAID
EARLY DAKOTAN
Many Former LeMars Residents Attend Obsequies of Mrs. V. P. Thielman

A friend of the Thielman family residing in Los Angeles, Cal.,
contributed the following obituary of Mrs. V. P. Thielman, whose death
was announced in the columns of this paper Tuesday:

On June 16, 1924, death entered the home of Vale P. Thielman, 617
Lillian Way, Los Angeles, Cal., and took the wife and companion of many
years. Sarah J. Thielman died from acute heart failure, super induced
by degenerative changes characteristic of ageing conditions.

Funeral services were held Thursday, June 19, from the Strother and
Dayton chapel, 6240 Hollywood Boulevard, where many old time friends and
neighbors gathered to pay a last farewell and comfort and sustain the
feeble, faltering steps of him who has been her life's companion threw
many years.

Rev. Wilsie Martin, pastor of the First M.E. Church of Hollywood,
officiated, and by fitly chosen words found a responsive chord in the
hearts of all assembled. The pallbearers were: W.T. Kistle, Everett E.
Eastman, R. W. Harrison, and Ed. Pfaifle, all formerly of LeMars, Iowa;
also Robert Pratt, formerly of Parker, S.D., and Mr. Shuster of
Cherokee, Iowa, both old-time friends.

Sarah J. Black was born in Jo Davies county, Illinois, January 3, 1854.
She was married to Vale P. Thielman on October 11, 1873, at Swan Lake,
S.D. by the Rev. G. W. Shelley. After their marriage they resided in
Swan Lake for four years before locating in Parker, S. D., in 1877.
Here they continued to live until 1895, when they moved to Sioux City.
After a brief two years residence in Sioux City they moved to LeMars,
Ia., in 1897, but in 1911 they again heard the call west, and came to
Los Angeles.

On October 11, 1923, shortly after moving into their beautiful home at
617 Lillian Way, their friends greeted them on their golden wedding
anniversary. Amid the joyous greetings of this impromptu affair, a
wedding ceremony was staged with Judge T. L. Norvel, former chief
justice of supreme court of Nebraska, officiating, while other friends
and neighbors joined in the glad occasion.

To the old pioneers of South Dakota, the very name of Thielman is
associated with grasshoppers, drouth, debit and disease. These were
life's tragic limitations to many but to Sarah J. and Vale P. Thielman,
it only opened up vast avenues for service. (Mr. Thielman having
several official positions to fill at one time) in which work, thrift
and sterling integrity brought their just returns. Not alone in
material wealth but in that nobility of soul and character, which is so
often molded out of these very tragic limitations of life.

Besides the husband in his declining years, two sisters, survive: Mrs.
Goodykountz, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Maria Harkness of Elizabeth,
Ill. Mrs. Goodykountz was present at the funeral as was also Mrs.
Lenora Theilman Emerson, of El Monte, Cal., who was raised by Mr. and
Mrs. Thielman in Parker, South Dakota.