Debra Thielges

Mass of Christian Burial for Debra Thielges, 68, of Marshall, will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall.  Visitation will be on Monday, May 20, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with a CCW Rosary at 5:00 p.m. at the Horvath Remembrance Center in Marshall.  Visitation will continue on Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. at the remembrance center.  Interment will take place at St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery in Canby, MN.  A livestream and recording of the service will be available at www.holy-redeemer.com.

Debra Ann Thielges was born in Canby, MN, on July 22, 1955, to Doris and Luverne Thielges.  She was the eldest of 11 children; two of her siblings, twins, died at birth.  Debra was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Canby, MN.  She passed away on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

After graduating from Canby High School, Debbie attended Canby Vocational School for one year in the secretary program.  She then moved to Sioux Falls, SD, where she worked at Nash Finch until it closed.  Her next stop was as a receptionist at the nursing home where she was responsible for designing and writing the monthly newsletter, a task she truly enjoyed.  After a few years, she started working for the State of South Dakota, continuing until her health declined.

In her younger years, Debbie loved music by Glen Campbell and the Carpenters – she collected all their music!  She enjoyed many varieties of music, was an avid piano player, and loved to go disco dancing.  For many years she shared her love of music by teaching lessons and holding recitals for her students.  She cherished attending the Life Light Festival almost every year with friends and family and enjoyed the Jazz Festivals in Sioux Falls as well as musicals.   Debbie also volunteered at the Washington Pavilion where she loved helping while enjoying the music.  She belonged to CYA, a Catholic Young Adults Group in the Sioux Falls Diocese, and made lifelong friends.

Debbie was very generous with her family, always on the lookout for bargains in Sioux Falls to bring back to Canby for her parents and siblings.  She also had a passion for movies and collected many to share with others.

Eight years ago, after facing some health concerns and an accident, Debbie moved to a nursing home in Canby, then to assisted living in Minneota, and finally to Marshall to be closer to family.  Her first residence in Marshall was Hill Street Place Assisted Living, and for the past five years, she lived at Avera Morningside Heights.  During her time there, she built good relationships with the staff.  Although she preferred to keep to herself, she enjoyed playing bingo and participating in other activities.

She is survived by her siblings:  Robert Thielges, Diane (Mike) Osmond, Wendy (Lloyd) Schrunk, Jeff (Ruth) Thielges, Bruce Thielges, Gary (Beth) Thielges, LuAnn Thielges and Craig (Jodi) Thielges.  Also survived by nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews:  Lisa (Cory) Ormberg, Logan, Peyton, and Landon Moore; Angela (Evan) Pengelly, Owen, Anders, and Lucas; Benjamin (Natalie) Schrunk, Damien, Ida, Blaise, Ivan, Veronica, and Haven; David (Shelly) Schrunk, Hope (Mark) Lund, Eleanor, Dorothy and Henry, Kyle (Kayla) DeVos and Kaleb, Kaitlyn (Cole) Regnier and Stetson, Nathan DeVos, Lacie DeVos, Carter, Grant, and Lexie Schrunk; Andrew Schrunk; Kayla (Eric) Winkelman, Ashlynn, and Madelynn; Kacie (Blake) Haugen, Jaden and Camri; Seth Goodell and Koa Goodell; Emily Louwagie and Gabby, Hannah and Issac; Adam (Hannah) Thielges; Austin Thielges.   Uncles and Aunts:  Kathleen Thielges, Kate Hauschild, Dave and Lucy Welu, Donald (Cheryl) Welu, Al (Ann) Thielges, Sister Janet Thielges, and Rex Livermore.  Many, many cousins.  Friends:   Nancy, Theresa and Judy.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Doris and Luverne Thielges, and twin brothers, Michael and Joseph Thielges.

May Debbie rest in peace and may her memory be a blessing to all who knew her.