Thelma Omacht

LIFE HISTORY for THELMA OMACHT
Thelma Andrea Omacht, age 101 of Osakis went to her final home with the Lord on August 20, 2007 at the Galeon - Community Memorial Home in Osakis where she had been a resident for almost nine years.
Thelma was born October 28, 1905 in Long Prairie, MN to George and Gertrude (Shaw) Peterson. She was baptized as a young adult in the church that is now the Leslie Community Church. She grew up on the family farm in Reynolds Township. After attending a Todd county country school, Thelma attended Osakis High School and graduated in 1924. Following a year of Normal training she taught in Districts 12 and 22 for two years and then attended St. Cloud Teachers' College and received her lifetime teaching certificate. She taught English in the junior high school in Stillwater for five years.
On August 19, 1933 she was united in marriage to Clarence F. Omacht at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. They attended the World Fair in Chicago for their honeymoon. They lived in Osakis for a year where Clarence taught and then moved to Dilworth, MN. Clarence continued as an educator for 14 years before returning to Osakis in 1948 to serve as Superintendent of Schools for 25 years. During these years, in addition to her church and community service, Thelma did substitute teaching and was very supportive of her husband's career and was involved in school activities. Throughout her life she remained very interested in the lives of many in the community and followed their journeys with interest and prayers.
Thelma was a long time member of the First Presbyterian Church of Osakis, where she served as an ordained Elder and Clerk of Session for many years. In addition, she taught Sunday school and was active in the Women's Association and circle.
At one time she was a member of the Order of Eastern Star; a member of the Red Cross Gray Ladies (who helped with the Blood Bank); a member of the neighborhood auxiliary for Community Memorial Home since its beginning; a lifetime member of the Osakis Area Heritage Center and a charter member of Chapter CM of the PEO Sisterhood.
Thelma was a person of many talents and interests. She enjoyed playing bridge for many years. A staunch Republican, she wrote many letters to her legislators over the years. She was an excellent cook, baker and seamstress. She did tatting and used it to make stationary. She wrote the Osakis school history and presented it at the first All School Reunion. She appreciated nature and the beauty of God's creation and grew flowers that she shared with many. She was very aware of conservation and ecology for many years and lived a life of good stewardship of God's many blessings to her.
Thelma loved her family and being together with them. She was an avid letter writer and kept in contact with many relatives and friends. She also was a welcoming neighbor to all who moved into the area. She enjoyed traveling and in 1982 went on a trip to China and Japan and then on to Europe a few years later. Thelma was a dedicated, loving and kind mother, grandmother, great grandmother, neighbor and friend who will be dearly missed by many.
She is survived by her son, J. Richard (Terry) Omacht, D.D.S., R. Ph of Perham, MN; her daughter, Rev. Lois A. Burkart of Osakis; 4 grandchildren, Janice Omacht (Peter Anderson) of Minneapolis, Brian (Nora) Burkart of Prior Lake, John Omacht of Rochester, Kevin Burkart of Shakopee; a step grandson, Dennis Bucholz of Texas; three great grandsons, James, Will and Charlie Anderson of Minneapolis; a brother, Roy (Dorothy) Peterson of Roswell, NM; many nieces, nephews, great and great great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clarence who died in 1976; five brothers, Everett, Wendell, Dwight, Lincoln and Homer Peterson; two sisters, Norma Hintzen and Mildred Hall.
Memorials are preferred to the First Presbyterian Church of Osakis, the Clarence and Thelma Omacht Scholarship Fund, Galeon, Douglas County Hospice or the donor's choice.