Thelma Linder, age 96 of McClusky, ND, formerly of Turtle Lake, ND, died Saturday, May 6, 2006 at the Turtle Lake Community Memorial Hospital.

Funeral Services: 10:30 AM Tuesday, May 9, 2006;
St. Olaf Lutheran Church of rural Turtle Lake, ND;
Rev. Randy Emgarten, Officiating;
Interment: Bethel Lutheran Cemetery - rural Coleharbor, ND;
Visitation: Monday, 6:00 - 9:00 P.M. at Goetz Funeral Home - Turtle Lake;
Tuesday, 1 hour prior to time of service at the church.

Thelma was born November 15, 1909 at rural Turtle Lake, ND the daughter to Christ & Mary J.(Vigdahl) Berget. She was raised on her parents farm north of Turtle Lake and attended Crooked Lake rural schools. She was baptized and confirmed at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church. As a teenager, Thelma plowed fields with horses for neighbors and worked as a domestic for various families. At the age of 19, she worked in a cafeteria kitchen at Carleton College in Northfield, MN. She married John R. Linder on March 7, 1936 at Washburn, ND and became a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church of rural Underwood/Coleharbor, ND. Thelma and John lived on the Linder homestead near Underwood, ND until 1949 when the Garrison Diversion Project purchased part of their farm. They moved to Tower City, ND for 2 years and returned to the Turtle Lake area in 1951. Thelma and John purchased a farm 6 ½ miles north of Turtle Lake where they lived and farmed for many years. While living on the farm, Thelma worked as a farm wife, mother, caretaker, and a cook at the Turtle Lake Community Memorial Hospital for 11 years. She was active with the Bethel Lutheran Church and St. Olaf Lutheran Church Ladies Aid, where she sewed many mission quilts. Following John's death in October 1988, she moved into Turtle Lake and resided at the Turtle Lake Manor for several years. She enjoyed bird watching, reading, and following the activities of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. Thelma lived at the Sheridan Memorial Home in McClusky, ND for 5 years, and recently entered the swing-bed unit of the Community Memorial Hospital.

She is survived by two Daughters, Donna (Floyd) Murray of McClusky, ND & Lois (Bob) Misar of Sioux Falls, SD; one Son, Claude (Betty) Linder of Campbell, MN;
15 Grandchildren, 29 Great Grandchildren, & 3 Great-Great Grandchildren;

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband (John), 2 daughters (Carol & Carolyn), & infant son (John).