Thora Gillette

Black Earth - Thora Olijanna Gillette, age 98, died Saturday, October 3, 2009 at Heartland Country Village. She was born November 2, 1910 on the family farm near Black Earth, the daughter of Sever G. and Dorothea "Malla" (Venden) Skalet. Thora married Welberne L. Gillette on June 16, 1932 at the Vermont Lutheran Church. He preceded her in death in 1938. Thora earned her bachelor degree in education from University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. She taught in country schools, Union Valley, Midland and Beatty, then in Black Earth until 1944. From 1944 until retirement in 1972, she taught first and second grades at Sherman, Gompers and Lakeview Schools in Madison. She belonged to the Delta Kappa Gamma teachers' sorority. She used her time after retirement to write \"The Venden Story\", a genealogical story of her mother\'s emigration from Norway. She loved to tell and write stories about family and the farm. Music and singing were among her pleasures. She was an active member of Bethel Lutheran Church, its\' Altar Guild, Blanket Workshop, Norwegian Class, XYZ, and the Bethel Parish Shop. She also was an associate member of Vermont Lutheran Church. She was baptized, confirmed and married at Vermont, at one time was their Superintendant of Sunday School for 15 years. She directed many Christmas programs. She had a variety of interests, but enjoyed most the time spent with family and friends. Survivors include her daughter, Darlene \"Nitzy\" (Howard) Field of Solon, IA; her grandchildren, Karen (Greg) Edlund of Rochester, MN., Jim (Patricia) Field of Fort Wayne, IN. and Mark Field (Deb Kruse-Field) of Madison; Seven great grandchildren, Alyssa, Erik, Hannah, Paul, Sarah, Anna and Luke; her brothers, Jorgen and Gilbert Skalet both of Black Earth; her sisters, Dorothy Mae (Dick) Rasmussen of Lake Mills and Phyllis Bower of Madison; her sisters in law Inez Skalet and EthelSkalet, both of Mount Horeb; and many other relatives, nieces and nephews and friends. In addition to her husband Welberne, she was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Grant, Stephen, Maurice and Philip; her brothers-in-law, Lyle Underwood and David Bower; and her sisters-in-law, Grace and Mildred Skalet. Funeral services will be held at VERMONT LUTHERAN CHURCH, 9886 Vermont Church Rd., Black Earth at 11:00AM on Thursday, October 8, 2009 with Rev. Curtis Everson and Rev. Chad Christensen presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until the time of services at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Bethel Lutheran Church Media Ministry, Madison or the Vermont Lutheran Hymnal Fund. Thora's family thanks all of her devoted caregivers at the Meriter Retirement Center, HospiceCare, Inc. and Heartland Country Village over the years, thank you for your loving care. Memorials: In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Bethel Lutheran Church Media Ministry, Madison or the Vermont Lutheran Hymnal Fund. Cemetery: Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation: Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until the time of services at the church Service: Funeral services will be held at VERMONT LUTHERAN CHURCH, 9886 Vermont Church Rd., Black Earth at 11:00AM on Thursday, October 8, 2009 with Rev. Curtis Everson and Rev. Chad Christensen presiding