Catherine Thiessen

Catherine Bernadine (Brown) Thiessen was born on June 25, 1907, in Fremont, Nebraska to Edward J. and Mary (Ryan) Brown. She grew up in the Fremont area and attended St. Patrick's Catholic School in Fremont. On October 8, 1929, Catherine married Orval D. Thiessen in Fremont. The couple lived in Fremont and then moved to Ashland, Nebraska. Catherine operated the Dairy Treat next to Orval's Mobil Service Station. Orval died in 1990. Catherine later moved to Grand Island to be closer to her sisters. In 2007 she moved to Woodbine with her daughter and son-in-law Catherine and Dean Stephany.

Catherine was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ashland where she was active in the Altar Society. Catherine loved to cook and take care of the yard work.

Catherine died on Sunday, January 12, 2014, at Rose Vista Nursing Home in Woodbine at the age of 106 years, six months, and 18 days.

Catherine was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Orval; three sons-in-law, Jerry Hull, John Heller and Joe Heller; granddaughter, Linda Hull; two great granddaughters, Catherine Millie and Gracie Marie Heller; six brothers, Tom, Ed, Pat, Bud, Jim and Sylvester Brown and two sisters, Marcella Hlavaty and Sara Dixon. She is survived by six daughters, Marcella (Robert) Raikes of Louisville, Colorado, Catherine (Dean) Stephany of Woodbine, Iowa, Mary (Gary) Campbell of Riverton, Wyoming, Sharon Heller of Dunlap, Iowa, Colleen (John) Jones of Murdock, Nebraska and Pam Heller of Dunlap, Iowa; 21 grandchildren; 52 great grandchildren; 36 great-great grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.