Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 271019
Title: Thelma E. Spafford
Date: 9/15/1939-4/18/2023
Inscription/Marks: 9/15/1939
Summary: Thelma Spafford, 83, Fargo, ND, formerly of Westhope, ND, passed away April 18, 2023, at a Fargo hospital. Her funeral was held April 24, 2023, at the Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau, ND. Burial was at the Westhope Cemetery. Thelma Elaine Stead was born in Westhope on September 15, 1939, the daughter of Harry and Esther (Sannes) Stead. Thelma was raised on the Stead farm outside of Westhope and attended Stinson School No. 1, a one-room schoolhouse in Bentick Township followed by schooling in Westhope where she graduated in 1957. Thelma believed education provided many doorways to being fiercely independent. Thelma graduated from Minot Business College. While in college Thelma washed dishes at Charlies on Main. She told her children many stories of working at Charlies. After she graduated Thelma enjoyed working around the country doing secretarial work for various federal agencies. Her work took her to San Fransisco, Reno, Minneapolis, and Minot AFB. One Saturday at the Maxbass dance, Thelma met Clayton Spafford. Clayton was Thelma’s second love after Elvis and she enjoyed Honky Tonkin’ with Clayton at many of the local dances. Thelma and Clayton eloped in January 1966 and were married in Aberdeen, SD. They made their home in Maxbass and later their farm near Westhope. Thelma and Clayton had four children, Mary, John, Patricia, and Linda. While raising her family Thelma was a Girl Scout leader, 4-H leader, member of the Rebekah lodge, and active with the Presbyterian Church in Westhope. Thelma was a talented gardener, seamstress, and homemaker. Thelma often repaired clothing for the guys working for Cardinal Drilling. When her children reached high school and late elementary age, Thelma pursued more education at NDSU Bottineau and received an associate degree in computer science and business administration. In 1990, Thelma began a career with the State of North Dakota Department of Emergency Management in Bismarck and she was able to complete her career and retire in 2004. After retirement Thelma moved to Dilworth, MN. Thelma was secretary for her condo board and a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Fargo. For five years, she enjoyed being a snowbird and lived in Tampa, FL, in the winter. Thelma enjoyed Florida theme parks, art museums, and water aerobics. Thelma loved traveling and spent many years traveling with family to Costa Rica, Panama, Bahamas, Las Vegas, California, and Virginia. Thelma is survived by her daughters, Mary (Don) and Linda, of Minnesota, and daughter, Patricia (Steve), of Virginia; “adopted” daughter, Traci, of Texas; three grandchildren, Andrew, Lydia and Joel; many beloved nieces and nephews; and sister, Lorriane, of North Dakota. She was preceded in death by her son, John; husband, Clayton; parents, Esther and Harry; and brothers, Hank and Doyle.
Red ID: FND_I_78510 Image ID: 596208 Image Notes: FND001 271019

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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