Our dear, sweet Mom was raised up on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015, in the presence of her loving family. She was a very vibrant and lively 84 years young. Her passing was due to complications of pancreatic cancer.  Like many other obstacles in her life, she approached this battle with the most positive attitude possible, not happy to have it placed in her path, but very willing (in fact, eager) to fight it.  

Bernadette “Mae” Marie Thiele was born on Sept. 5, 1930, on the family farm near Clearwater, Nebraska, to Carl John and Rose Gertrude (Funk) Thiele. She was the ninth of their 12 children and grew up happily despite being a child of the Great Depression. 

After graduating from St. Mary’s in O’Neill, Nebraska, in 1948, she married James Joseph Thramer on Feb. 26, 1949, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Clearwater, Nebraska. They were blessed with eight mouths to feed throughout their marriage. In 1956, Jim, Mae and six of their children moved to Kalispell where they raised their family and added the final two to their brood. 

In 1973, they headed back to Nebraska where Jim preceded Mae in death in March of 1982. Over the next several years she moved to be near one or more of her children and siblings, finally settling in Neligh, Nebraska. In 2004, she made her way back to Montana where she spent the remainder of her life enjoying family and friends, and life in general.  We, her Montana children, were so happy to have her near again and able to enjoy her over the last several years. 

Throughout Mom’s life music was a common theme. She played piano from the time she was a child and played the organ for and sang in the choir in many of the various parishes to which she belonged.  

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; parents, Carl and Rose Thiele; daughter, Susan Dianne; granddaughter, Anna Mae; sisters, Teresa, Cecelia and Geraldine; brothers, Augustine, Louie and Clement Joseph; and many in-laws, family and friends who were near and dear to her.

She is survived and will be greatly missed by her loving children, Mary Thramer and Tom McFarlane, Jim and Alice Thramer, Rosemary and Jim Gilbert, Dwayne and Laurie Thramer, and Chris Ohler and Mark Delorme, all of the Flathead Valley; and Kathy and Bob Slocum, and John Thramer and Patti Hirschmann of Norfolk, Nebraska; 19 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Vince, Lillian, Marge, Charles and Adelide “Lou.” We are sure she will also be remembered by many other family and friends too numerous to mention.

Besides being a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, Mom wore many hats throughout her life. She worked in the food, health and home health industries and was very much admired by her employers, patrons and patients. In fact, Mom continued to care for her elderly patients until just the last few months of her life.   

Mom gave us love, and taught us forgiveness and patience. She was never afraid of hard work and passed that strong work ethic on to us.  She persevered through tough times and remained strong in her faith, was spunky and sassy and always happy to share a laugh. She was always on the go and happy to be a part of her large circle of friends at the Elms and St. Matthew’s Parish. We thank God for cell phones or we never would have been able to keep track of her! We love you Mom and miss you so much.  

A rosary will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Kalispell. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 12:10 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, also at St. Matthew’s.  Father Rod Ermatinger will officiate. A luncheon will follow the Mass and all are invited. 

Donations in Mae’s memory may be made to St. Matthew’s Parish or to the charity of your choice.  

Mom will be interred in Nebraska with our Dad following a Mass at St. John’s Church in Clearwater in September of 2015. Details for this service will be shared at a later date. 

Buffalo Hills Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.