Charlotte  Thum

CLERGY
Rev. Ron Shifley
EULOGY
Dennis Thum
MUSIC
Organist ~ Sharon Orth
Charlotte Thum was born on July 22, 1922 to Adam and Johanna (Max) Muehlbeier in rural Scotland, South Dakota. On February 25, 1945, she was united in marriage to Elton Thum at Zion Lutheran Church in Scotland. Following the completion of Elton’s U.S. Navy military service, they made their home on the Thum family farm 6 miles southwest of Scotland. For the 50+ years that Elton farmed, Charlotte was a hardworking farmwife. She would milk their temperamental dairy cows and raise numerous chickens and ducks. Charlotte was able to find joy in the everyday responsibilities and chores she took care of for her family. She was happy in her calling as a wife, mother, and grandmother. She enjoyed cooking, baking, embroidering, and nurturing a flower garden in her yard. Charlotte was also the unofficial family photographer. There wasn’t an occasion or event that she missed taking pictures of. Throughout their lives, Elton and Charlotte loved to entertain guests, oftentimes around the table with coffee, cookies, conversation, and laughter. The couple also shared a love of music. Over the years, they had sung at over 100 funerals together as well as in many church and community choirs and quartets. Charlotte was a good-intentioned, thankful person. She held high ideals and valued kindness. She would regularly send notes, cards, and thank yous expressing her gratitude, sympathy, or greetings.
During her life, Charlotte was a member of numerous local organizations. She was an active member of the United Church of Christ in Scotland, serving in the Women’s Fellowship, as a VBS and Sunday School teacher, and positions in many other church committees. She was a member and officer of the Good Samaritan Society of Scotland Auxiliary. She was also a member of the Landmann-Jungman Memorial Hospital Avera Auxiliary and Paul Grosshuesch VFW POST #2966 Auxiliary.
Charlotte passed away on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Society of Scotland having attained the age of 93 years, 5 months, and 29 days.
She is survived and remembered by her children: Dorothy (Dennis) Bietz of Olivet, Rita (Don) Baker of Sioux Falls, and Dennis (Ellen) Thum of Sioux Falls; 7 grandchildren; 7 step-grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; 3 step-great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-granddaughter; brother Lester (Shirley) Muehlbeier of Scotland; sister Vi Popma of Scotland; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Elton in 2005.