Thelma Louise Russell, 80

On May 19, 2005, Thelma Louise Russell finally lost her valiant struggle with scleroderma and left this earthly world for a far better place. Although Thelma was exhausted from this disease, she remained positive and hopeful throughout her illness and approached it like many of the adversities that life had handed her in the previous 80 years -- as she often said to family and friends, "This too shall pass."

Thelma Louise Carter (T.L.C.) was born to Roy and Erma Carr of Ainsworth, Neb., on Feb. 9, 1925. Thelma was the second child born to this Nebraska farm family. She completed her high school education in Keya Paha County, Nebraska, then taught at rural schools for several years. Thelma completed studies at the Lincoln School of Commerce in Lincoln, Neb.

Following that and while employed as a secretary, she met Lt. Lloyd G. Russell, then a pilot with the Army Air Corps. They were married on Dec. 19, 1946, and for the next 25 years, Thelma's life revolved around her children and supporting her husband Russ in his continually changing military career. As a pilot with the U.S. Air Force, Russ's stateside assignments included Washington, D.C., Denver, California, Nebraska, and again California, and finally Georgia. In addition, their life together included year-long assignments for Lloyd in Korea and later, Vietnam, and also shorter duration Air Force missions around the world.

Thelma took the many changes of military life in stride, demonstrating her strengths as a wife and mother, taking control and managing whatever needed to be done to resettle or stabilize her family. This was always done with a positive outlook, love, and more than a touch of mid-western stubbornness during this growing family era. She was without question the very backbone of the Russell family.

When Russ retired from the Air Force in 1970, the family moved to Bigfork. For more than 20 years, Thelma and Russ owned and operated Bigfork Realty along with good friends and business partners, Robert C. and Patty Morris. Thelma was first a licensed real estate salesperson and then became a licensed real estate broker well known in the Bigfork real estate community. Thelma was always capable, hard working, and dependable and her strategy for success was treating people with kindness, fairness and honesty.

In addition to her real estate career, Thelma enjoyed being outside and working in her garden and taking care of the cherry orchard. She was a member of the Beardance Club, Chapter BII, PLO. and the Bigfork Community United Methodist Church.

Although Thelma's life in Bigfork was busy with her many friends and fulfilling real estate career, it was not without family adversity. In April of 1990, she lost "Russ," her husband and soul mate of almost 45 years. In addition to her sister Alice's death in 1998, losing her daughter, Kathy Bowling in early spring of 2003 was almost more than she could bear. But with her inner strength, family support, and positive outlook and with Kathy and son-in-law, Gary's growing children, she was almost able to get beyond it, and continue to make the most of the life she was given in her final years.

Thelma is survived by her son, Lloyd O. Russell and his wife, Sue, and children, Tammy, Casey, and Amy of Stevinson, Calif.; her son, Douglas and his wife, Louise, of Dillon, and children, Matthew and Kirk of Bigfork, her son, Bradley and his wife, Peggy, and children, Afton and Max of Bigfork, and Kelly of Dunsmuir, Calif.; and son-in-law, Gary Bowling and children, Davis and Andrew of Eagle, Idaho; her brother, Roger Carr and his wife, Joy, and children, Roy Scott and Bradley Wayne of O'Neill, Neb.; and her niece, Janice Stoorza of Stuart, Fla.

"Thelma will be deeply missed by her family and many friends but because of the combination of her love and support for famiIy, her strength and energy, her thoughtful and cheerful disposition, her utterly positive outlook on life, we will cherish our memories and continue to celebrate her life."

A visitation service will be held for Thelma from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Bigfork Funeral Home on Monday, May 23. A funeral and graveside service with Ron Pierce officiating will be held at the Bigfork Community United Methodist Church in Bigfork, on Tuesday, May 24, beginning at 2 p.m. with a reception at the church to follow the graveside service.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to The Scleroderma Foundation, 12 Kent Way, Suite 101, Byfield, MA 01922.

Bigfork Funeral Home is caring for the family.