Thelma J. Earl age 98, of Mitchell (formerly of Mt. Vernon) died Friday, August 12, 2011 at Prairie View Care Center in Woonsocket. Funeral service will be 2:00 PM Monday, August 15, 2011 at the United Methodist Church in Mt. Vernon. Visitation will be Sunday, August 14, 2011 from 2 to 4 PM at Will Funeral Chapel in Mitchell with a time for sharing at 3 PM. Burial will be in Mt. Vernon Cemetery. Thelma Josephine was born June 6, 1913 to Lauritz J. and Clara (Sebby) Malde at home near Mt. Vernon. She grew upon the farm south of Mt. Vernon and attended a small country school (Union 28) from 1919 until he 8th grade graduation and then graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 1931. Thelma worked at home and cared for an elderly neighbor, after high school. Thelma was united in marriage with Orville Rueben Earl on May 11, 1934 and Thelma and Orville farmed from 1934 to 1963. Thelma was very active on the farm, working and in keeping an organized household for her husband and three children, Gary, Janice and Jeanne. After Orville's death, Thelma worked at Mitchell Retirement Home and later as a switch board operator at Dakota Wesleyan University. She moved to Mitchell in 1964 and continued to work at DWU until her retirement at age 69 in 1982. She retired in Mitchell in a small home near DWU until she moved to Prairie Crossing in February 2001. In March of 2004 Thelma moved to Prairie View Care Center in Woonsocket where she resided until her death. Thelma was a member of the United Methodist Church in Mt. Vernon. Thelma enjoyed reading, bird watching, experimenting with new recipes and spending most of her time with her family and enjoyed dancing in her earlier years, especially the Charleston. Beloved by all, she touched countless lives both young and old. Thelma said many times "The greatest word in the dictionary is Family" Grateful for sharing her life are her children Gary Earl of Mt. Vernon, Janice Kerwin (deceased) and her husband, Robert, Mitchell, SD Jeanne (Dr. Jack) Berry of Mitchell, SD and; five grandchildren Ron (Lori) Earl, Julie Raye Earl, Angela Prewett, Kris (Connie) Kerwin and Leah Kerwin; five great grandchildren Gary Earl , Rubin Earl, Orric (Amanda) Earl, Jen (Ryan)Block and Kaleb Prewett and two great grandchildren Braden Block and Alexis Earl. Preceded in death by her husband in 1963, parents, daughter Janice Kerwin in 2010, daughter-in-Law Alberta Earl in 2006 and one brother Jesse. Memorial may be directed to the Mt. Vernon Methodist Church in her honor.