Thelma O. Phifer

Obituary Thelma Orten Phifer, 84, died June 2, 2014, following an accidental fall. Thelma was born Dec. 16, 1929, in Beardsley, Kan., in the family home of Charles A. and Cora A. Orten, the sixth of 10 children. She was raised on the family farms near Beardsley and McDonald, Kan. She attended Mayflower School, a one-room schoolhouse, before graduating from Girls Catholic High School in Hays, Kan. She attended Marymount College in Salina, Kan., for two years before meeting the love of her life, Paul Phifer, on a blind date. She married Paul on August 16, 1949 in Atwood, Kan. They lived in Benkelman, Neb. and Holdredge, Neb., before moving in 1955 to Fort Collins, where she lived the rest of her life. She was a lifelong Catholic and became a member of St. Joseph's Parish upon her arrival in Fort Collins. She was a member of St. Bernadette's and St. Rose of Lima women's church groups. She joined St. Dominic's rosary making guild in 1960 and made thousands of rosaries for American and foreign missions. Thelma was a stay-at-home mom until 1969 when she began working for the registrar at Colorado State University. She worked registrations for 30 years before retiring. She was a volunteer at her Church, Mary's Closet and Poudre School District, and loved being a docent at the Lincoln Center. Thelma is survived by her husband of 64 years, Paul, and their five children and families: Terri Haas, Laporte; Tim (Sandy) of Freeman, Mo.; Steve (Ramsey) of Staunton, Ill.; Tony (Kathy) of Fort Collins; and Paula, Platteville. She is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and countless friends she has made over the years. Also surviving are her sisters: Lucene Krueger, Belmont, Calif.; Jean Brickell, Denver; Delores Graff, McCook, Neb.; and Janice Brown, Stockton, Calif. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Arthur and Duane, and sisters Agnes, Betty and Patty. After a life spent giving of herself, Thelma's final selfless act was donating her body so that others might live. A memorial service, with rosary, will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph's. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph's at 9:30 a.m. Friday. Thelma's adamant request: In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Joseph's Church and school, or Catholic Charities Northern. Read More Services You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Thelma O. Phifer