NICKERSON - Velma Louise Thode, 93, died July 26, 2009, at Good Samaritan, Lyons.

She was born May 15, 1916, at the rural farm home of her parents, Michael and Mary Yaple Blanchfield.

She gradauated from Sterling High School in 1934 and then went to work at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Hutchinson, in the office.

She married Victor Thode in a double ring ceremony at Larned Methodist Church parsonage on Sept. 1, 1936, with her sister Doris and Claude Morris.

Velma and Victor had three children, Colleen, Roy and Kenneth.

She was a homemaker all her life. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was dedicated to her family and their well-being. Her three children, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren were the focus on her life. Her happiest times were experiences shared with them.

She belonged to Midland United Church of Christ, rural Sterling, where she was an active member of their women's guild, serving as secretary and treasurer. She was an active member of the SS Club of the Nickerson Community for many years.

Velma and Victor retired from farming and moved to Nickerson in 1979. He died Dec. 23, 1995.

Survivors include: a son, Kenneth and wife Linda, Hutchinson; a daughter, Colleen Zwick, Lyons; five grandchildren, Joel Thode, Wichita, Erin Thode, Hutchinson, Craig Zwick and wife Kenneta, and Scott Zwick and wife Jan, all of Lyons, and Michelle Thode Denhardt, New Jersey; nine great-grandchildren, Trey, Hutchinson, Anne and husband Scott Hjetland, Lyons, Andy Zwick and wife Debra, Sterling, Molly Zwick, Lyons, Kaleb Zwick, St. Francis, and Lindsey, Madison, Jackson and Christian, all of New Jersey; and a great-great-grandson, Cooper, Lyons.

She was preceded in death by a son, Roy Lee Thode, an infant son, sister, Doris Morris, and a granddaughter, Brenda.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday Aug. 1, 2009, at Midland United Church of Christ, rural Sterling, seven and a half miles north of Nickerson, with the Rev. Bob Smith presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Burial will be in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery and Mausoleum, Hutchinson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Good Samaritan Center, Lyons, the Alzheimer's Association or the Rice County Community Foundation, all in care of Elliott Mortuary.

Visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave personal condolences for the family.