Thelma C. Garrison

Thelma C. Garrison, 91 year old resident of Little Falls, MN, passed away on Sunday, October 19, 2014 at Little Falls Care Center. Funeral Service will be held at 11 AM on Friday, October 24th at Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls. Rev. Henry “Hank” French will officiate and burial will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 PM on Thursday, October 23rd and from 10 to 11 AM on Friday in our chapel. Thelma Corrine Bjerga was born on May 28, 1923 in Fergus Falls, MN to the late Albert and Ragnhild (Djuvik) Bjerga. She was united in marriage to Carl “Kelly” Garrison, Sr. on May 23, 1946 at Faith Lutheran Church in Staples, MN. They eventually settled in Little Falls. Thelma worked at Bye’s Truck Stop and The Royal Café as a waitress for many years. Thelma and Carl also worked as caretakers at the Pine Grove Park and Zoo. She enjoyed the basics of life, such as cooking, canning, gardening, playing cards, and together with Carl, driving the country roads looking at wildlife; especially deer. Thelma’s greatest love was her family and her faith. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and looked forward to family gatherings. Thelma was especially proud of her Norwegian heritage and her home reflected it. She is survived by children, Karen (LeRoy) Booth of Sartell, MN; Kathy (Ken) Kloss of Little Falls, MN; Terry (Paula) Garrison of Little Falls, MN; and Pat Ferguson of Little Falls, MN; brother, Art Bjerga of Hibbing, MN; sisters, Olga Shake of Leader, MN, and Esther Barton of Plymouth, IN; 13 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Carl “Kelly, Sr.”; son, Kelly, Jr.; son-in-law, Tim Ferguson; grandson, Benjamin Garrison; sister, Ruth Wax; brothers, Swen, Christ, Mikkel, Alvin, and Harold Bjerga. Honorary casketbearers will be Christine Sod, Brad Booth, Nick Ferguson, Mikkel Ferguson, Keith Garrison, Sean Garrison, and Michelle Hardy. Casketbearers will be Cory Kloss, Peter Garrison, Nate Ferguson, John Booth, Jennifer Schroden, and Sarah Garrison.

Tributes

Thelma C. Garrison

May 28, 1923 - October 19, 2014