Thelma B. Egeberg, 101, of Rock Island, IL, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, December 16, 2024, at Friendship Manor, Rock Island.

Private funeral services were held and a recording of the service can be viewed at the following link: https://vimeo.com/1044747978/69e7ea793e?share=copy . Burial was in Rock Island Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Oak Grove Lutheran School, Fargo, N.D. or to Faith Lutheran Church, Moline, IL.

Thelma was born March 11, 1923, in Rugby, N.D., to Osmund and Anna (Tjon) Selland. She grew up on a farm eight miles southwest of Rugby and attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse, arriving by horse or horse-drawn buggy or sleigh. When attending Rugby High School she was driven in their newly acquired family pick-up, with an arrangement to stay in town during the harsh winters. For her junior and senior years of high school she went away to Fargo to attend and live at Oak Grove Lutheran High School, where she met her future husband, Ruben. During her school years she was very involved in singing and playing the piano.

Thelma went on to earn her nursing degree at Good Samaritan Hospital in Rugby, and then worked as a registered nurse in Rugby, Fargo and Minneapolis.

She married Ruben N. Egeberg on June 6, 1948, at Tunbridge Lutheran Free Church in North Dakota. Settling in Minneapolis and later moving to Rock Island, she became a homemaker and they raised five children. They enjoyed church activities and traveling in the U.S. and abroad, visiting all 50 states. Ruben preceded her in death on March 2, 2013.

Thelma loved arts and crafts including making many beautiful counted cross stitch pieces for her family. She enjoyed making scrapbooks of family photos and trips. Baking was her favorite hobby, and was a lifelong one. Even at 101 she would say, "I feel like baking something"! She was known for her oatmeal bread, sweet rolls, lefse and keeping her cookie jars full. Thelma was very welcoming and loved hosting family for visits, serving them delicious meals. She also sent cards and letters to family and friends, including weekly letters to her children for over five decades.

Thelma lived in her own home until age 101 (with loving help from daughter, Janet, and son-in-law, Jay) before moving to Friendship Manor. She enjoyed the wonder of nature: the sky, the trees and the variety of birds at her feeders which kept her company. Her faith in God was her anchor. Her advice about aging well was, "Don't have people wait on you. Get up, and do it yourself!" She exercised her mind playing Scrabble, winning most of the time. When asked about her health she always said, "There's nothing wrong with me! I don't have a thing to complain about!" (even when dealing with challenges).

But the thing Thelma is probably most remembered for is Christmas. She loved Christmas and made it very special with lots of family traditions, including always setting beautiful tables for holiday meals, singing carols and reading Scripture. She enjoyed giving gifts, including humorous ones, and watching her family open them one at a time (the Norwegian way, she said). She shopped for Christmas gifts throughout the year, thoroughly enjoying shopping in thrift stores in her latter years. Her family enjoyed going "home" or "to Grandma's" for Christmas, if possible, regardless how old they were. When Thelma was getting close to going to be with the Lord, one granddaughter said it wouldn't surprise her if Grandma passed during the Christmas season "to get us all together for her favorite season one last time!"

Thelma is survived by her children, Donna (Bob) Marcue, Dale (Melinda) Egeberg, Gary Egeberg, Janet (Jay) Wilhelm, and Karen (Barry Springer) Egeberg; 8 grandchildren, Jason (Alison) Wandersee, Tricia (Scott) Burry, Joshua (Allison) Wilhelm, Rebecca (Jason) Folkerts, Jennifer (Ryan) Shafer, Brandon (Kathryn) Springer, Kristen Egeberg, and Aubrey Egeberg; 14 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild on the way; sister, Ruth Halvorson; and numerous nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ruben, and 5 brothers.

The family would like to thank the staff of Friendship Manor for their tender, compassionate and professional care of Thelma.

Online condolences and memories may be shared with Thelma's family on her tribute wall at www.wheelanpressly.com.

Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10b