Lena Marie Thomas

Lena M. Thomas, 77 of Devils Lake died on Tuesday evening, May 11, 2010 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND. Mass of Christian Burial for Lena will be held on Monday, May 17, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. Don Leiphon will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Sunday, May 16, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation on Monday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Serving as Casket Bearers for Lena will be Craig Thomas, Dana Thomas, Brandon Tufte, Jesse Elverud, Stan Howen and Randy Holtz. Lena Marie, the daughter of Tanner and Ingabor (Hove) Alveshere was born on October 1, 1932 at Harvey, ND where she grew up and was educated. Lena was united in marriage to Nicholas Thomas on March 14, 1951 at Enterprise, Alabama where they lived and Lena was a stay-at-home Mom while Nick served in the military. In 1952 they moved to Harvey and Lena worked as a CNA at the Harvey Hospital. They moved to Devils Lake in 1953 and lived, worked and raised their family here. Lena worked at Mercy Hospital for over 37 years, retiring in 2000 as head of the housekeeping department. Lena was very involved in the community and several organizations including the Eagles Club and was Past President of the VFW Auxiliary. She cooked at the VFW for several years also. She loved to cook for her family also and whenever a batch of her famous vegetable soup was cooking on the stove a call went out “bring over your soup bowls”. She treasured her children and grandchildren and was always the happiest when she was surrounded by their presence and their love. Lena had many joys and sorrows in her life and on September 11, 2009 she and Nick lost their home, belongings and faithful companion, Nipper to a fire. But Lena faced the challenge with courage and the support of her family. Lena is survived by her husband of 59 years, Nick; children Elaine and her husband, Paul Chepulis and Mike Thomas all of Devils Lake; grandchildren Nicole (Jesse Elvesrud) Faine, Karen (Stan) Howen, Dawn (Brandon) Tufte, Bobbi (Mike) Hakanson; Craig (Mandy) Thomas, Jamie Coffield; Dana Thomas, Sierra Thomas and Tanner Thomas; eleven great grandchildren; daughters-in-law Judy Carlson of Rochester, MN and Candy Solseth of Devils Lake; brother Kermit (Florence) Alveshere of Moorhead, MN; sisters Alice Wiest of Harvey and Caroline Gilfus of Minot, ND; several nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. Lena was preceded in death by her parents; son, Ronald Thomas in 1997; brothers, Arthur Alveshere and Lester Alveshere; sister-in-law, Ella Alveshere and her granddaughter Karen’s husband, Jon Olson;