Thelma Kihneman

1921 - 2016

Thelma Kihneman
Dec. 20, 1921 - Jan. 27, 2016
Resident of Sunnyvale
Thelma was born into a farming community in Edmore, North Dakota, of Norwegian parents. Her father was born in the "old country," her mother a first generation American. Growing up, she loved to read. In high school she was surrounded by her brothers and sisters and upon graduating attended Jamestown College, earning her teaching credential. Her first job teaching was in a one-room schoolhouse where she taught 14 students ranging in grades from 1st through 8th. After two year teaching, her restless soul desired greater challenges, she moved to the west coast and eventually made her way down to Los Angles where she discovered banking as a career. Those days in Westwood/Beverly Hills, post WWII, were the hay days of the big band era and she loved every minute of it. She met and fell in love with Donald Kihneman in that time and they married in 1947. Now a Navy bride, she moved to the Bay Area with her new husband and began her family. First came Elizabeth and 6 years later, Thomas.
Life in Palo Alto, raising a family, building her career with Wells Fargo was good. After 20 years in the Navy, Donald moved on to a career in international banking, working in The City. In 1964 the family moved to Sunnyvale. Donald continued commuting by train, enjoying the culture of San Francisco, as we all do. After 44 years together, he passed in 1992.
Thelma's connection with the Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church began with the move to Sunnyvale. She loved to sing and play piano. You could have seen her in the church choir, every week, for many years. After she retired from Wells Fargo in 1983, she started helping assemble the newsletter each month and then a few years later she joined the Monday morning counting crew. They were very happy to have a banker join their ranks. She surely enjoyed all the volunteering she did at the church. Church was her home away from home and her best friends and closest relationships were fostered and flourished here.
At 94 Thelma was still a vibrant soul. Throughout her life she loved to travel, read, play cards and eat San Francisco style sour dough French bread! On one of her trips to Europe she primarily went to Norway to visit relations from her mother and father's sides of the family. She learned some Norwegian for that trip attending West Valley College.
A smile was always easy, a forgiving nature and loving heart were always with her. Her spirit will watch over us always.
As one of seven Fjalstad siblings, Thelma is survived by her daughter, Beth (now Beth Smith, husband Randy), son Tom (wife Susie), grand children, Beth's sons Ken (wife Cristi) and Brian (sons Donovan and Kaizen), Tom's children Chris and Katie.
The family of Thelma Kihneman wishes to thank Kaiser Hospice and the staff of Atria in Sunnyvale for their loving help and kindness.
A memorial service will be held at the Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church, 728 Fremont Ave. Sunnyvale 94087 on Friday, February 12, 2016 at 1pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made in Thelma's name to the Channel Choir of the above church or to a favorite charity.


View the online memorial for Thelma Kihneman