Thelma Conner

Thelma Conner, 94, loved friends and family. Thelma Conner, age 94, died Thursday, December 1, 2011 at her home in Teton Village, Wyoming, with family members by her side. The following was provided by her family: Thelma was born September 24, 1917 in St. Joseph, Missouri, the daughter of Edward Allen Bruce and Mabel Gentzell . She grew up in St. Joseph, attending Central High School and St. Joseph Jr. College (now Missouri Western State University) where she earned a certificate in the emerging field of Medical Technology. Using these new laboratory skills, she worked at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago and at the Missouri State Hospital in St. Joseph. The Manhattan Project (the US government project to develop an atomic bomb) drew Thelma to Iowa State University in Ames, where she analyzed the blood of project workers to determine if they had been harmed by radiation. She received the Army and Navy "E" (Excellence) Award for her participation. She always said that she worked on this project, but she couldn't tell you any details! (It was Top Secret!) Iowa State is where Thelma met her "honey-bun" on a blind date. Gabel Henry Conner and Thelma were married on December 17, 1943. Gabel was a veterinarian who taught large animal surgery at several veterinary schools, notably 25 years at Michigan State University. Thelma and her husband loved to garden and "put things by". Her shelves were filled with jams, jellies and canned or frozen meats, fruits and vegetables. After Gabel died in 1992, Thelma moved first to Boise ID and then to Teton Village in 2004 to be near her daughters and son-in-law. Thelma was the family historian; she and Gabel traveled around the country doing genealogy research. Her love of family was also reflected in her correspondence. She participated in a cousins' letter for 20 years; once Thelma started a correspondence with you, it was for life! Reading (nonfiction, only!) was another joy for Thelma. Her love of books was reflected in her many years of volunteer service at her childrens' school libraries and lately at the Teton County Library.She was an accomplished piano and organ player starting at age seven and continuing until her death. She often attended the Grand Teton Music festival events and the Jackson Hole Hootenanny. Her family adored her; she was a, "Loving wife, mother and grandmother". Thelma is preceded in death by her husband, Gabel Henry Conner of Uniontown WA, and her daughter Linda Conner Delgatti of Lafayette CA. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Irene and Moe Mellion of Teton Village, her daughter Carol Connors of Teton Village, her five grandchildren Rosie Mellion of Boston MA, Jack (Rebecca) Connors of Missoula MT, Frank Mellion of Omaha NE, Bruce Connors of Boise ID, and Tony Maxfield of Lafayette CA, her sister-in-law Mavis Engelland of Gig Harbor WA and her loving ex son-in-law John Connors of Boise ID. At her request, no services will be held.

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