Thelma E. Vassar , 98, 600 S. Main St. - Minot, died Monday, September 4, 2006, in a Minot nursing home.

Thelma Swanson was born April 4, 1908, in Willmar, MN, to Victor C. and Mabel (Gull) Swanson. She was raised and attended school in Willmar until her family moved to New Rockford in 1916, and later to Minot in that same year. Thelma attended school in Minot and graduated from Minot High School in 1926. For the next seven years she was secretary to J.H. Colton in the high school principal's office.

Thelma was united in marriage to Harold C. Vassar on February 18, 1933. They made their home in Minot.

After her marriage she worked in the Board of Education office while attending Minot State College. after that she gained employment at the Home Extension Office in the Ward County Courthouse and for Mon-Dak Chemical Company until her retirement in 1980. Following her retirement, Thelma volunteered at the John Moses United States Air Force Regional Hospital in Minot, earning the Certificate of Devotion to Volunteer Duty for volunteering over 1,000 hours of service. She also volunteered numerous hours at Trinity Hospital in Minot.

Thelma and Harold had college students boarding at their home. These young women became their extended family and many have kept in touch with her through the years. Harold died February 21, 1969. She entered Manorcare Health services on January 30, 2003.

She was an active member of Vincent United Methodist Church, the Floral Rebekah Lodge, and the auxiliaries of Veterans of World War I, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Legion, all of Minot. She was also an active member of the Wesleyan Service Guild, Ruth Circle, NSP Retiree Group, Tenants Association of the Milton Young Towers, the Minot Book Club and the Senior Citizens League.

She is survived by: Sisters: Loretta Knight, Bismarck, ND and Geneva (Ray) Petersen, St. Helena, CA; and numerous nieces and nephews, including Minot niece Jean Laskowski.

Thelma was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and sister, Frances.

Funeral: Friday, September 8th, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. at Vincent United Methodist Church of Minot.
Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens, Minot;
Visitation: Thursday, September 7th, from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home of Minot.
Memorials: Memorials are preferred to Vincent United Methodist Church or to an organization of the donor's choice.