Wilma Louise Thygeson

Wilma Louise (Welch) Thygeson January 6, 1933 - February 24, 2023 Wilma Louise Thygeson, age 90, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on February 24, 2023, at home in East Wenatchee, WA. She was born January 6, 1933, in Batesville, AR, to Butler "Tex" and Elsie Mae (Smith) Welch. After her childhood in Arkansas, Wilma called many places "home." She lived on a sailboat in San Luis Obispo, CA, and in several towns in Washington, notably Beverly, Liberty, and Anacortes, before settling in the Wenatchee Valley in her 60's. She loved the Lord and was always involved in her local church, serving faithfully. She was a woman of many talents: seamstress, upholsterer, volunteer firefighter, gardener, and photographer. Wilma was born in the Great Depression, and times were difficult for her parents. At the age of nine, Wilma was adopted by Silas and Mary Kimbrough. As a teenager, she worked hard picking cotton and doing field work to help support the family. She would recount how the bags of cotton that she hauled in the fields were heavier than she was! In the early 1950's, she moved to Washington to be closer to her father "Tex", and her step-mother, Nola. She married Bob Dykes and they had a daughter, Deborah. Wilma and Bob lived in Beverly and worked for the Wanapum Dam where she counted fish. She also did upholstery work and was a member of the volunteer fire district. In her 30's, Wilma remarried and welcomed step-daughters Helen and Jean as family. After moving from Beverly, she lived in a cabin in Liberty, WA, and subsequently lived on two different sailboats based out of Anacortes, WA. She sailed along the US Pacific Coast and visited ports in Mexico. After the sailboats, Wilma continued to live in Anacortes, where she was a devoted member of the Anacortes First Assembly of God church. In the early 1990's she moved to the Wenatchee area. In 2003, Wilma married Robert Thygeson and she gladly welcomed his three sons, Lee, Bobby, & Steve, and Robert's grandchildren and great-grandchildren as family. They were happily married for 9 years until Robert passed in 2012. After a period of illness in 2016, Wilma moved to live with her granddaughter Angel and her family. Wilma loved Jesus, loved all people, and she loved to share Jesus everywhere she went. She spent lots of time ministering to those in the jail and hospital. When she moved to Wenatchee, she would drive through town with a big pot of soup and feed the homeless. She was instrumental in seeing many come to know Jesus. She opened her home to host many struggling pilgrims on their journey to follow Christ. She also discipled many during Bible study and prayer gatherings. She was known as "Mama" by the many she loved and that loved her. Wilma loved to pray, read the Bible, and worship the Lord daily, in addition to attending church regularly. Her small library of Bible dictionaries, concordances, and study guides was well used and loved. She enjoyed making personal study notes of the scriptures with cross references and personal messages from the Holy Spirit. Wilma left behind many notebooks filled with her personal notes and Bible studies. Wilma loved her family deeply, and she dearly loved her many friends. She especially enjoyed hosting holiday gatherings and made amazing meals and desserts! She will be greatly missed by all who know her. Wilma was preceded in death by her late husband, Robert Thygeson in 2012. She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Westenberg; her step-children: Helen Myrick, Jean (Pete) Hernandez, Lee (Barbara) Thygeson, Bobby (Tonya) Thygeson, and Steve Thygeson ; her sisters: Virginia Tipton, Wanda Sanders, Sharon Youtsey, Debbie Kramer, Norma Mack, and Neta Batterson; her brothers: Jerry Lynn Kimbrough, Ronnie Welch, Bobby Welch, and Clay Withrow; her grandchildren: Angel (Dennis) Howell, Paul Harris, Lindsey (Joe) Knapp; her step-grandchildren: Desiree (Matthew) Harrison, David (Georgia) Day, Aaron (Karen) Day, Chris (Dora) Patchen, and Matthew Thygeson; many great-grandchildren. Wilma was preceded in death by her parents Butler Welch and Elsie Smith; her adoptive parents Silas and Mary Kimbrough; her step-parents Nola Welch and Phil Harrison; her sister Vonna Fischer; and her brothers Gerold Welch and Loy Withrow. Thank you to the staff at Confluence Health & Hospice for your care and support for Wilma. A memorial service will be held on March 22, 2023, at 3:00 PM at Wenatchee Valley Christian Center, 1621 S Methow St., Wenatchee, WA. Refreshments and fellowship to follow the service. Burial will be at Evergreen Memorial Park in East Wenatchee, WA. You are invited to view Wilma's online tribute at www.heritagememorialchapel.com to share a memory or leave a condolence. Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee & Cashmere.

Wilma Louise Thygeson

June 1, 1933 - February 24, 2023