Thelma Fern Bueltell

Thelma Fern (Higgins) Bueltell was born to Carl and Martha Higgins on February 2, 1937 at the home place in Abarr, Colorado.  She was one of their 10 children. Thelma had six brothers and three sisters to share the joys and struggles of growing up in rural Colorado. Thelma went on to attend all twelve years of school in Yuma, graduating in 1955. 

After graduation she married Robert “Bob” Bueltell and they made their home in Denver for a short time before returning to Yuma.  Then it was off to Chicago for Bob’s schooling. Upon the completion of his schooling Bob and Thelma hit the road again as Bob started working road construction.  They made their home in Sterling and Brush, Colorado, locations in New Mexico, before finally moving back to Yuma. They initially lived west of Yuma on the Vaughn Campbell place before moving to 714 S. Albany.  From there Bob and Thelma began constructing a new home east of Yuma and then sold it before completion.  There new address found them at 206 N. Columbus.

To Bob and Thelma’s delight a daughter was born on December 30, 1956, Pamela Jean. Motherhood gave Thelma such great joy and, in a few years, Pam was blessed with a little brother, Nathan Louis, born on January 14, 1961.  The annual family vacations were fun-filled road trips that led to lasting memories for everyone.  Summer trips to the lake to waterski and boat were magical.  Both, Pam and Nat, attended Yuma schools with Pam graduating in 1975.  Tragically, Nathan lost his life in an auto accident on February 21, 1978.

When Thelma wasn’t at Bob’s side she was working. Thelma started work at Yuma Life Care and from there moved to a teacher’s aide position at Yuma West School. She then quickly advanced to the secretary role. Thelma was never one to be idle and later found herself at Ranch Wholesale (better known as Big R) where she worked for nearly 10 years.  Many were able to enjoy Thelma through the years as she served them at the popular eateries around Yuma, namely Popcorns, Higgie’s Hideaway, and the Main Event. 

As if being a mom and working a job didn’t keep Thelma busy enough, she and Bob sold their home in 1977 and constructed a log home at 303 S. Ivy in Yuma where they lived from that day forward.

Thelma loved tending her flowers and her garden, canning and freezing her bountiful harvest along with the Palisade peaches and pears they gathered from their annual trek.  One could find her canning their catch from their salmon snagging trips to Green Mountain and Williams Fork or their walleye and wiper fishing trips to Bonny and Jumbo.  Thelma was blessed by Lady Luck as she was always the one to catch that coveted first fish.  Being the consummate outdoorswoman, Thelma was right alongside Bob hunting pheasant, antelope and turkeys.  Even Bob would quietly admit she was the better shot.

Thelma was a woman of many talents and enjoyed a host of activities.  Through the years daughter Pam, and even Pam’s Barbies were adorned with new clothes crafted by Thelma’s masterful sewing skills.  Not only tailoring but embroidery was in Thelma’s wheelhouse, too.  At Old Threshers Thelma could be seen going through the used books making her reading selections for the coming year while donating those she read from the last.  The annual road trip to Roswell, New Mexico to see her sister and the quick gambling junkets to Deadwood or Black Hawk were trips she loved to make.  Numerous camping and fishing trips gave Thelma the satisfaction of a life well lived.

Thelma departed this world on July 5, 2024 after battling numerous illnesses.  She leaves to mourn her daughter, Pam McClung of Yuma, CO; grandsons, Christopher McClung of Yuma, CO and Brian McClung of San Luis, CO; great granddaughters Calliope and Loxley also of San Luis; many nieces and nephews; and a host of family and lifelong friends.

Preceding her in death were her husband of sixty-six years, Robert; her son, Nathan; son-in law, Walt McClung; her father and mother; and six brothers and three sisters.

*A memorial service was held Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 2:00 pm at the Baucke Funeral Chapel in Yuma, Colorado with Pastor Chris Mulder officiating.  Inurnment followed at the Yuma Cemetery.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.