Thelma Mae Potter, 93

Thelma Mae Potter, 93, passed away in the early morning hours on Feb. 21, 2011, guided by the wonderful care and loving attention given by the Immanuel Lutheran Home and Hospice.

She was born in the little town of Scales Mound, Ill., on April 3, 1917, to Jack and Mae Winters, where she spent her childhood until the age of 18, when she married Charlie Potter. Shortly after their union, they moved to Butte, where Charles attended the School of Mining in Butte, after which he was employed by the Anaconda Company until his retirement. Thelma was blessed to be able to remain at home while raising their children, Mary and Jack.

After their children were older, Thelma enjoyed doing volunteer work for both the hospital and the local library. Thelma loved to sew and did meticulous hand embroidery projects.

Both Thelma and Charlie loved to entertain both family and friends with good food and card games. They were a tough team to beat while playing Pan or Hearts, and you had to be pretty hardcore to get the best of them. Many, many good times and laughs were had around the Potter dinner table during these times.

For 50 years, Charlie was a member of the Masonic Temple and Thelma was a member of the Eastern Star. They enjoyed many functions with these organizations and were adamant supporters of Shodair Crippled Children's Hospital in Helena.

When Charlie retired in 1974, he and Thelma moved to their residence on Swan Lake where they attended Swan Chapel. After church every Sunday the family would go to Grandma and Grandpa's house where she would prepare a wonderful meal. Her pot roast and potatoes were a family favorite and Grandma was always in her element while in the kitchen lovingly preparing a feast for her family. Many wonderful years were spent at the lake house with fond memories of the bonfires, fishing, swimming, skiing and sleepovers. In their later years, they left the lake and bought a home on Swan River. Thelma loved her "river house" and enjoyed entertaining friends and family there as well. In 1996 Thelma and Charlie moved into Kalispell, where they lived until Charlie passed in 2000, after which Thelma enjoyed living at Buffalo Hill Terrace, where she met many new friends and acquaintances.

Thelma was preceded in death by Charlie in 2000. 

She is survived by a son, John "Jack" Potter, and his wife, Sheri, of Crawfordville, Fla.; a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Okken, and her husband, Walter, of Lakeside; five grandchildren, Kathy Wright and husband Perry of Lakeside, Carol Galarita and husband Mike of Seattle, Curtiss Potter with the Coast Guard overseas, Nancy Kitonidis and husband Jammi of Ashburn, Va., and Ellen Miller of Seattle; one great-grandson, Jonathan Parkman, of Kalispell; and one great-great-grandson, Ryker Parkman, also of Kalispell.

“Thelma, Mom, Grandma, friend ... you are loved by so many and we will continually miss you until we meet together again.”

Cremation has taken place and a private ceremony will take place at a later date.

Donations may be given to Hospice of Kalispell, or Shodair Crippled Children’s Hospital, 2755 Colonial Dr., P.O. Box 5539, Helena, MT 59604.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Thelma’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Thelma’s tribute wall.