Ruth Thelen

Ruth I. "Irene" Thelen, age 62 of Grand Forks, North Dakota, died Tuesday, October 19, 2010.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 23 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Ken Thielman officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Holy Family Catholic Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota and 1 hour prior to the service at the church in Melrose. A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday evening at Holy Family Catholic Church in North Dakota.

Ruth Irene Thelen was born January 23, 1948. She grew up in Vallejo, California with her 4 sisters and 2 brothers. Irene was blessed to have her sisters Gayle, Lucille and Laura with her in Grand Forks for the last few days of her life. Irene received a degree in education from St. Cloud State University and taught at the English department at Central High School in Grand Forks from 1976 to 2004. She married John Thelen in 1976 and they went on to have 2 children, Rich Thelen and Leah Thelen. Irene loved to walk "the big block", nurture her flowers, cook and read. She will be greatly missed.

Survivors include her husband, John Thelen of Grand Forks, North Dakota; and children, Rich Thelen of Fargo, North Dakota and Leah Thelen of New York, New York.