Theda Boettger

Theda Evelyn (Ricks) Boettger died quietly on July 20, 2012, at Beatrice Hover Assisted Living in Longmont, Colorado. She was 91. Theda was born in a blizzard on Christmas Day in 1920 to Leslie and Eva (Hicks) Ricks on her grandmother's farm in Patterson, Illinois. She was raised in East Alton, Illinois and graduated from East Alton-Wood River Community High School. She met her husband Harvey Emil Boettger while working at Winchester Western Brass Works. They were married on March 26, 1944, in East Alton, while Harvey was on leave from the US Army Air Corp. After Harvey's retirement from Olin Matheson, they moved to Pharr, Texas. When Harvey died in 1981, she moved to Longmont to be near her daughter and family. Theda was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grand-mother. She volunteered in the schools her children attended and with Boy Scouts. She was an avid bridge player and an excellent golfer. She won quite a few trophies in golf, several from Sunset Golf Course in Longmont where she played in the Ladies' 9-Hole League. She attended as many of her grandchildren and great-grand-children's activities as she could until her health declined. She attended services at All Faiths Chapel at Hover Community as often as she could and was a member of Calvary Church in Longmont. Her faith in God sustained her throughout her life. Theda is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Clifton Ricks, and her grand-daughter Natalie Dillow. She is survived by her daughter Lynn (Otis) Dillow of Longmont and her son Rand (Denise)Boettger of Florissant, Missouri. She is also survived by three grandsons Michael (Traci) Dillow, Patrick Dillow (Carol Scheurle) all of Longmont and Bradley Sharos (Jennifer) of Beleviderer, Illinois, four great-grand-children Brittany and Ashley Dillow and Connor and Jordan Dillow also of Longmont, and her beloved cat Tina. She is further survived by her sister-in-law Dorothy Ricks and nephew Michael (Janice) of Godfrey, Illinois. Cremation has taken place at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel and Crematory. Memorial services will be August 6, 2012 at 10:00 am at All Faith's Chapel at Hover Community with Pastor Ken Martinez of Rocky Mountain Bible Baptist Church officiating. The family requests no flowers, please. Burial will be at Pine Tree Cemetery in Patterson, Illinois at a later date. Memorial contributions are suggested to Hospice of Boulder and Broomfield Counties or the Longmont Humane Society. The family wishes to thank the staff at Beatrice Hover for the months of loving care and devotion to Mom and Tina, and Kathy and Adrianna of Hospice for their friendship and guidance over the past 2 years.