Thelma Fillman

FUNERAL SERVICES : 11:00 A.M. Monday, November 29, 2010 at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Park Rapids, MNVISITATION : One hour prior to services at the church.INTERMENT : Henrietta Cemetery near Park Rapids, MN.SURVIVORS : Her brother Donald Jolliffe of Louisville, KY, her children Michael (Arlys) Fillman of Cherry Valley, CA and Jana (Clair) Erickson of Park Rapids, MN; seven grand children: Lowell Erickson, Jason (Marielena) Fillman, Karen (Leslie) Erickson Franke, Tricia (Thomas) Erickson Graham, Laurella (Adam) Fillman Case, Tanya (Toby) Erickson Imler, Kevin Erickson, and three great grand children. THELMA FAE FILLMAN March 11, 1925 ~ November 26, 2010 Thelma Fae (Jolliffe) Fillman was born at home on March 11, 1925 to George and Marie Jolliffe in Havelock, Iowa. Thelma is the second of four children: Robert being eldest followed by Vera and Donald. Marie raised all of the Jolliffe children, as their father was killed in an accident early in their lives. One of Thelma"s earliest memories was of being spanked many times for eating dirt " Thelma figured that she was probably in need of iron or some mineral. The winter of 1932 was memorable to her because of significant snow. "Road crews came and shoveled by hand as the plows couldn"t handle the reported six feet of snow." Depression years were difficult; never any money, never any new clothes " only hand-me-downs; no indoor plumbing and "running water was when you run after it." There were seldom any Christmas presents; however, on one memorable Christmas, Uncle Fay Pirie brought them a new sled " a real treat. Uncle Fay became the father figure, helping to run the family farm. Starting in 7th grade and through High School, Thelma always played basketball. Being tall, she was a natural. During her junior year at Havelock High, Thelma"s team made it all the way to the State Championship game, but lost the game in the final. She graduated from Havelock High School in 1942. After graduation, she moved to Des Moines, Iowa to continue school at the American Institute of Business from which she had received a basketball scholarship. Upon graduation, she worked for various companies including: Coca-Cola, 7-UP, Republic Pictures and KRNT radio station, all in Des Moines. All of these companies had women"s basketball teams, so Thelma continued her basketball skills during the WW II years. Thelma met Robert Fillman on New Years Eve in 1946 and their first date, the following day, was a rabbit hunt. They were married October 7, 1947 in the Fort Des Moines Methodist Church in Iowa. Michael was their first born in 1948, followed by Jana on Christmas day in 1949. Robert enlisted in the Air Force after WWII, and thus the Fillman family began a life of various military assignments including: Oklahoma City OK, Newfoundland, Greenland, Omaha NE, London England and East St. Louis IL. Thelma was a homemaker during these years while Mike and Jana were growing up. Regarding life as a military wife, Thelma said that it was important to "go where your husband goes" and so she honored his career and modeled being a faithful and supportive wife. During the time Robert was in Labrador, Thelma had begun Bible studies with her brother and sister-in-law in Des Moines in the early 1950"s and, after being convinced of Bible truths that she had never known, she was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1955. This event was a turning point in Thelma"s life as she found new strength and hope in the belief of the second coming of Christ and the promise of eternal life. Bob also joined the church a year or two later while stationed in Omaha. Thelma was a children"s Sabbath School leader during her children"s early years. When Bob retired from the military in 1964, the family moved to Andrew"s University in Michigan where he and Thelma resided for 33 years. While in Michigan, Thelma worked in the university"s Student Lounge as a hostess. Still to this day, many students remember her as the kind lady at the desk who would answer their questions and offer social counsel. Thelma was a very elegant lady, always well dressed and always kept her house spotless. It has been said that you could eat off of her floor at home. For years, she was an avid representative for the Luziers Cosmetic Company. She kept all the family amply supplied with its products. Many people commented, especially in her later years, on the beauty of her skin. In 1997, Bob and Thelma moved to Park Rapids, MN to be near Jana during their retirement years. After Robert passed away in 2009, Thelma lived with Jana until three weeks before her death. She passed away on Friday November 26, 2010 at Green Pine Acres in Menahga, MN. Some of her family members were present in her room and were singing hymns at the time of death. Thelma is survived by her brother Donald Jolliffe of Louisville, KY, her children: Michael (Arlys) Fillman of Cherry Valley, CA, and Jana (Clair) Erickson of Park Rapids, MN; seven grand children: Lowell Erickson, Jason (Marielena) Fillman, Karen (Leslie) Erickson Franke, Tricia (Thomas) Erickson Graham, Laurella (Adam) Fillman Case, Tanya (Toby) Erickson Imler, Kevin Erickson, and three great grand children. Thelma"s parents; husband, Robert, sister, Vera and brother, Robert preceded her in death.