Thelma Marx

Thelma Erma Marx was born in Springport, Mich., Feb. 28, 1920, to Elmer Wesley and Loie Thelma Ann Sovern, the oldest of eight children. She cared for her siblings while her parents worked. The children all walked long distances to school.

She married Robert C. Marx on May 10, 1942,  and was blessed with three children and 68 years of marriage.

She raised a military family in many location across the U.S. and a few foreign countries. She brought beauty and cultural enrichment into her home from years spent living in the Orient. The family was stationed twice at Ellsworth Air Force Base (S.D.) in 1961-63 and  in 1969-71. She worked at the Officer’s Wives’ Club and Braun’s dress shop.

 Robert and Thelma bought land in the Black Hills of South Dakota and built a retirement home in the early 1970s. Thelma supported the Hill City (S.D.) arts, Friends of the Library and was an active member of the Hill City Senior Center.

Thelma was a lifetime member of the Order of Eastern Star, a member of the Daughters of the Nile and served as mother advisor for the Rainbow Girls in California and Nebraska. She was a loving mother who inspired her children to excel and provided leadership and parental guidance during their formative years. Being a military wife whose husband served during WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam war, she was the “general” of the family, but ruled with lace gloves.

Thelma died June 22, 2012, at Rapid City (S.D.) Regional Hospital, Hospice of the Hills. She was 92.

Thelma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Robert; daughter, Judith Ann Browne; brothers, Jack and Robert Sovern; and her sister Mae Millward.

She is survived by her son, Rodger (Kathy) Marx of Hill City; daughter, Deborah Casey of Hill City; three brothers, Elmer (Carol) Sovern of Albia, Iowa, Theodore Sovern of  Battle Creek, Mich., Richard (Barbara) Sovern of  Stuart, Fla.; sister, Beverly Levy of Sanibel Island, Fla.; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; and many very close friends.

Memorial services were June 29 with Pastor Brian Anderson officiating at the Lighthouse Assembly of God Church in Hill City. Interment followed at the Hill City Cemetery.

A memorial fund has been established to the Shrine Hospital Travel Trust Fund, 4091 Sturgis Road, Rapid City, SD 57702. This fund provides transportation to needy children being treated at the Shriner’s Hospital for Children® in Minneapolis, Minn. 

Family and friends may sign Thelma’s online guestbook at www.kirkfuneralhome.com.