Vera Ellen Thurman of Iola, whose death on Sunday and funeral services were published in Tuesday’s Register, was born March 1, 1916, in Covington, Okla., the sixth of 12 children born to William H. and Dorothea C. (Jordening) Bartels. She attended country school in that area and grew up there.
In 1942 she moved with her family to Beatrice, Neb. In 1952, she moved to Wichita where she was employed by Safeway stores for more than 18 years.
On Oct. 17, 1970, she married Cecil R. “Pat” Thurman and moved to his farm southwest of Erie. He died Nov. 6, 1997. After his death she returned to Beatrice to make her home. She lad lived in Iola the past three years.
She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Beatrice and First Christian Church of Erie while living in the Erie area.
She is survived by two stepchildren, Thomas W. Thurman and his wife, Darlene, Iola, and Sandra Kay Asbill and her husband, Pat, Manilla, Utah; stepgrandchildren, Nicholas and Cindi Harrison, John and Betty Harrison, Shane and Karen Harrison, Anson and Amy Frye, Frank and Jamie Frye, Jason Thurman, Laynie and Andrew Wrabek, Michael and Carrie Asbill and Jeremy and Jana Asbill; many stepgreat-grandchildren, nieces and nephews; sisters, Ada Nolte, Dewitt, Neb., and Mildreth Jordening, Blue Hill, Neb.; and a brother, Eldo Bartels, Daykin, Neb.
A stepdaughter, Linda Gail Butler, stepgranddaughter, Edie Moses, five sisters, Lula Bartels, Leona Helling, Lorine Swarthout, Evelyn Dougherty and Berniece Wyssman, and three brothers, Reinhold, Clarence and Derold Bartels, died earlier.
Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Erie is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at wallfuneralservices.com.
Vera Thurman
