Thelma Bernice Bottolfson was born in Wauben, Minnesota on March 9, 1922 one of three children born to Obeline Tilford Wold and Theoline Barbara (Berquam) Wold. She grew up in Amery and attended Amery Public Schools and graduated from Amery High School. On September 4, 1943 she was united in marriage to Burton Edward Bottolfson. They made their home in Minneapolis where their daughter Kathy was born. Burt served in the U.S. Army during World War II. When he left for duty Thelma moved to Amery and stayed with her parents. When Burt returned they lived in Amery and three more children were born. In 1959 they moved to a house on Lake Wapogasset in rural Amery. In 1972 they built a home on a farm near Deronda, which they had purchased several years before. Thelma worked as a clerk and bookkeeper at Our Own Hardware in Amery for many years, but throughout her life she was always there for her family. She loved cooking, baking, gardening and canning the produce that they grew. Whenever you stopped by, Thelma had homemade goodies to be shared. She was a longtime member of First Lutheran Church in Amery and was active with the VFW Auxiliary in Amery. When it became difficult to live out on the farm they moved to Evergreen Village in Amery. After Burt died in 2008, Thelma moved to Stonecrest Assisted Living in Woodbury, Minnesota so she was closer to her family. Thelma transitioned to Stonecrest Memory Care where she died on Friday, January 15, 2016 at the age of 93 years.
Thelma was preceded in death by her parents O.T. and Theoline Wold, husband Burt Bottolfson, daughter Jean Bottolfson, Brother Orrin Wold, Sister Avis Miller and son-in-law Lowell Rieks. Surviving family members include her children: Kathy (Paul) Petit, Beverly Rieks and Bruce (Helena) Bottolfson. She also leaves seven grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren as well as other relatives and friends.


Funeral services will be held at First Lutheran Church in Amery, Wisconsin on Friday, January 22, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. There will be visitation at the church for the hour prior to the service. Burial will be at the Amery Cemetery.