THELMA LIETZ

YETTER — Thelma Lietz, 80, formerly of Yetter and Spirit Lake, died Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007, at home.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, at Lampe Funeral Home with the Rev. Betty Weidert officiating and burial will be in the Lake City Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

Thelma was born on July 1, 1927, in Sac City, Iowa, the daughter of William Anthony and Nellie Ruth (Mastler) Jarvis. She attended country schools around Sac City, Iowa.

On May 2, 1947, Thelma was married to Wilbur Edward Lietz in Troy, Kansas. They made their life in Newell, Iowa, until 1961 when they moved to Yetter, Iowa. There they worked at the Yepsen Locker Plant that they later purchased. They later added a grocery store and cafe. Thelma cooked for most of the surrounding area and just many passing by. Her joy of cooking was passed on to all her children. Thelma and Wilbur maintained the business throughout the rest of their married lives until Wilbur’s passing, which at that time their son Charlie took over the family business.

Thelma was a devoted wife and mother. She shared her home to many over the years, welcoming all with her generous hospitality. She loved fishing and quilting and did beautiful embroidery work. She enjoyed an occasional visit to the slots playing nickels.

Thelma moved to Spirit Lake in 1992, after the death of her son Charlie. She purchased a small home on East Okoboji where she remained until she could no longer care for herself.

She was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Spirit Lake.

Thelma is survived by daughter, Pam Hicks and husband Roger (grandsons, Adam and Cody) of Lake City; daughter Vicky Albertsen and husband Bill of Spirit Lake (grandson Troy Yeazel) of Kansas City and wife Shelley with two great-granddaughters Taylor and Brynne); son Mark Lietz and wife Cathy (grandson, Jordan and granddaughter, Jocelyn) of Yetter; son Mike Lietz and special friend, Jodi Miller (grandson, Jessie and granddaughter, Alexis) of Yetter; brothers, Veryln Jarvis and wife Sandy of Sac City, Vernon Jarvis of Rockwell City, Bill Jarvis and wife Dorothy of Sac City; sisters, Flossie Wulkow of Wall Lake, Velma McCullough of Storm Lake, Mary Hyle of Des Moines; and sister-in-law, Marge Jarvis of Sac City.

Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Wilbur, son, Charles, sisters, Elizabeth Cretsinger, Hazel Patterson and infant sister, Ruth Ann Jarvis, brothers, Bernard Jarvis and Richard “Little Richard” Jarvis