Thelma Irene Anderson Simpson
Thelma Irene Anderson Simpson
Thelma Irene Anderson Simpson was born on
September 4, 1917 to Herman Victor Anderson and Bessie Irene Gray Anderson in
Powell, Park County, Wyoming. Thelma grew up during the “roaring
twenties” the daughter of a rural Wyoming grocer.
Education was always important to Thelma. She and her identical twin sister, Velma Ilene
Anderson Darling were co-valedictorians for the Powell High School class of
1935. During the depths of the great depression, Thelma was able to
attend the University of Wyoming by working for her room and board. She majored
in elementary education and ultimately received her teaching certificate.
Thelma married James Corwin Simpson in 1937 in Powell,
Wyoming. Their first son Neil was born
in 1941. As a member of the “Greatest Generation” Thelma then sent her
husband off to war. Her second son Norman was born during the war and her
third and fourth “baby boomer” boys, Gilbert and Gordon were born after the war
in Idaho where Jim was Chief of Fisheries for the Idaho fish and Game
Department.
For over 20 years, Jim and Thelma lived on an acreage
on Collister Drive in Boise raising berries, fruits, vegetables, chickens,
rabbits and four boys. During this time Thelma was a cub scout den mother
and active in PTA. With a Fish and Game husband and four boys Thelma
realized she needed to learn how to camp, fish, and hunt. Jim and Thelma
advanced the fledgling hobby of backpacking by making their own packboards for
the family. The family photo album is replete with pictures of Thelma
cooking trout over a campfire at many a mountain lake. After her boys
were all in school Thelma worked several years for Bogus Basin Recreation
Association as office manager.
In retirement Jim and Thelma enjoyed traveling. They
traveled near and far to Japan and the Far East, Germany Europe, Ireland,
Russia, South America and the Galapagos Islands.
They built their retirement home in Cascade Idaho and
wintered in Arizona. Thelma and Jim helped develop SISCRA campground on
Cascade lake. Thelma loved having adventures with her grandchildren and
treasured her interaction with her great-grandchildren.
After a marriage of
64 years,
Jim
passed away in 2001. Thelma continued her active lifestyle until the past few
years when she settled full time in Cascade where her oldest son, Neil, could
help her.
Thelma was always an avid bridge player, and played in
a competitive bridge club up until just a few weeks ago. She was an amateur
photographer and was the family chronicler at all family reunions. She
also enjoyed bird watching, reading, sewing, and crocheting.
Thelma is survived by her four sons and their
spouses, Neil, of Cascade, Norm and Marlynn of Big Fork, Montana, Gil and Kathy
of Eagle and Gordon and Gaylynne of Boise. She is also survived by
21
grandchildren and
58
great-grandchildren.
She passed away peacefully at home on November 17,
2012.
She was preceded in death by her
parents, twin sister, husband, one granddaughter and two great-grand babies.
Her funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 24, 2012 in the
Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel, 5400 Fairview Avenue, Boise, Idaho. She
will be laid to rest, next to her husband Jim in the Terrace Lawn Memorial
Gardens.
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