Obituary of Verna Mae Thies

Verna Mae Thies, wife to Frederick William “Fritz” Thies, has passed away to be with the Lord. In 1928, in a cabin on the shores of the White River in Arkansas, Verna was born to William and Helen Prange, farmers; she was the ninth of their ten children. In 1932, at the height of the Depression, her father moved the family to Cisco, Texas where Verna grew up. Verna was smart, a precocious reader, and a good student. In the early 40s, she attended Cisco High while several of her brothers went to war; one never returned. After graduating from high school when just barely 16, she attended St. John’s College in Winfield, Kansas with a dream to become a school teacher. At that moment, millions of veterans were enrolling in college under the GI Bill, which was how Verna met the love of her life, Fritz Thies, 1st Marine, just returned from the Pacific campaign. Verna and Fritz married in 1948. Over the next 15 years, they moved around the Gulf Coast, Fritz following jobs in the petrochemical industry, and Verna raising four kids as a dedicated, full-time mom, teaching whenever she could. In 1963, Verna and Fritz moved their family to Olympia, where they settled for good. Verna’s life was rich: she took special interest in the lives of her four children, and later created many wonderful memories in the young hearts and minds of her many grandchildren and great grandchildren. She continued to teach throughout her adult life, working with the deaf and tutoring a refugee family for many years. She was involved in church activities and Bible study, and she always demonstrated compassion for others, helping them whenever, wherever, and however she could. In 2009, after 61 years of marriage, her husband Fritz passed away (http://archive.funeralalternatives.org/obits/Obit_Results.asp?ObitKey=1418). Verna is survived by three generations who all remember her as a loving and generous person. She is, and will always be missed. We love you, Mom. Verna’s family asks that—in lieu of cards, flowers, or any other gestures of sympathy—those wishing to remember Verna do so by visiting someone in a care facility, to brighten their day. Please leave memories of Verna or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.