Obituary for Thelma Grace (Lekse) Hanley
Thelma Grace (Lekse) Hanley went to her heavenly father on December 30, 1917 in Roundup. She was born on May 6, 1923, in Zeigler, Illinois, to Anton and Adolphina Lekse. She was the oldest of 7 children, Thelma, Louise, Tony, Frank, Richard, Anna and Donald. In 1927, her family moved when her father took a new job at Star Mine in the Musselshell area.
Thelma attended most of her school years at Roundup, where she graduated in the class of 1942. After high school, she babysat and worked one summer at Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park. Thelma then went to work at the old county hospital in Roundup as an aide. Working at the hospital turned out to be a life changing event for Thelma, since this is where she met her husband-to-be, Melvin Hanley. They fell in love and on the evening of November 23, 1942, one day before he left for the Army, they got married by the Justice of Peace.
Thelma and Melvin began their family in 1945, when their first child, Linda was born. They added Susan, Bill, and Cindy to their family in the following years. She thoroughly enjoyed family get togethers, dinners, and her favorite time of year, Christmas. Thelma enjoyed baking, crafting, sewing, crocheting, and oil painting. Neither Melvin or Thelma owned an automobile or had a license. They walked everywhere they needed to go in Roundup, and their trips around town together were so frequent that they even had an article written about them in the local paper. Thelma and Melvin were married for almost 50 years before Melvin’s passing in 1992.
Their four children gave her more than 30 grandchildren and great grandchildren. She always said she was very fortunate to have been able to share in such a large part of her grandchildren’s lives. One of her saddest memories was the death of her grandchild, Dan. They had a special bond and she loved her visits with him.
When she was unable to be in her home, she moved to the Roundup Memorial Healthcare nursing home, where she spent lots of time going to activities and visiting with the other residents and staff.
Thelma is preceded in death by her parents: Anton and Adolphina Lekse; sister: Louise Eide; brothers: Frank and Richard Lekse; daughter: Linda Ream; and two grandsons: Dale Ream , Dan Goffena and a great granddaughter Faith Tull.
She is survived by her brothers: Tony (Margaret) of Roundup, Donald (Ruth Ann) Lekse of Terry, MT; sister: Anna Cross, Iowa; two daughters: Susan (Frank) Goffena, Cindy (Bob) Tull of Roundup; son: Melvin William (Barb) of Bridger, MT; son-in-law Bob Ream of Sparks, NV; grandchildren: Dawn Overton, Robby Ream, Jenny Riesinger, April Goffena Stange, Chris Tull, Ben Tull, Alicia Godfrey, LW Goffena, Jake Barthule, Eric Hanley, Robert Barthule, David Barthule, Shawn Hanley, Mandy Hanley, and numerous great grandchildren..
Visitation services will be at Wier Funeral Home in Roundup, Thursday, January 4, 2018 from 5-9 pm.
Services will be at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Friday January 5, 2018, at 11 am. Interment will be in the Miner’s Cemetery, Roundup, Montana. Luncheon will be served at the church after burial
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Thelma attended most of her school years at Roundup, where she graduated in the class of 1942. After high school, she babysat and worked one summer at Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park. Thelma then went to work at the old county hospital in Roundup as an aide. Working at the hospital turned out to be a life changing event for Thelma, since this is where she met her husband-to-be, Melvin Hanley. They fell in love and on the evening of November 23, 1942, one day before he left for the Army, they got married by the Justice of Peace.
Thelma and Melvin began their family in 1945, when their first child, Linda was born. They added Susan, Bill, and Cindy to their family in the following years. She thoroughly enjoyed family get togethers, dinners, and her favorite time of year, Christmas. Thelma enjoyed baking, crafting, sewing, crocheting, and oil painting. Neither Melvin or Thelma owned an automobile or had a license. They walked everywhere they needed to go in Roundup, and their trips around town together were so frequent that they even had an article written about them in the local paper. Thelma and Melvin were married for almost 50 years before Melvin’s passing in 1992.
Their four children gave her more than 30 grandchildren and great grandchildren. She always said she was very fortunate to have been able to share in such a large part of her grandchildren’s lives. One of her saddest memories was the death of her grandchild, Dan. They had a special bond and she loved her visits with him.
When she was unable to be in her home, she moved to the Roundup Memorial Healthcare nursing home, where she spent lots of time going to activities and visiting with the other residents and staff.
Thelma is preceded in death by her parents: Anton and Adolphina Lekse; sister: Louise Eide; brothers: Frank and Richard Lekse; daughter: Linda Ream; and two grandsons: Dale Ream , Dan Goffena and a great granddaughter Faith Tull.
She is survived by her brothers: Tony (Margaret) of Roundup, Donald (Ruth Ann) Lekse of Terry, MT; sister: Anna Cross, Iowa; two daughters: Susan (Frank) Goffena, Cindy (Bob) Tull of Roundup; son: Melvin William (Barb) of Bridger, MT; son-in-law Bob Ream of Sparks, NV; grandchildren: Dawn Overton, Robby Ream, Jenny Riesinger, April Goffena Stange, Chris Tull, Ben Tull, Alicia Godfrey, LW Goffena, Jake Barthule, Eric Hanley, Robert Barthule, David Barthule, Shawn Hanley, Mandy Hanley, and numerous great grandchildren..
Visitation services will be at Wier Funeral Home in Roundup, Thursday, January 4, 2018 from 5-9 pm.
Services will be at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Friday January 5, 2018, at 11 am. Interment will be in the Miner’s Cemetery, Roundup, Montana. Luncheon will be served at the church after burial
To plant a tree in memory of Thelma Grace (Lekse) Hanley, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Thursday
4
Jan
5:00 PM
- 9:00 PM
Wier Funeral Home
208 1st Street West
Roundup, MT 59072
Service
Friday
5
Jan
11:00 AM
Emmanuel Baptist Church
602 Main Street
Roundup, MT 59072
Graveside
Friday
5
Jan
12:00 PM
New Miners Cemetery
4648 US-87
Roundup, MT 59072
Cemetery Details
Location
New Miners Cemetery
4648 US-87
Roundup, MT 59072
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