Thelma Jean Potter was born July 2, 1921, on the family farm two and a half miles north of Langbank (where Seed Hawk is now situated). Anyone growing up in those dust bowl years during the 1930's will well remember how simple and lean those times were. Thelma was fourth down the line of this family of six children. There was no shortage of work, and with no extra cash available, families made their own entertainment. Visiting back and forth with neighbours was looked forward to, as well as working together harvesting, rounding up cattle and wood-sawing bees. On one Saturday, the children decided to sell ice cream cones to folks driving by on number nine highway. The ice cream was made, a sign was erected, “Ice Cream Cones for Sale - 5 cents”. Unfortunately, their dad decided, with the kids home from school, it would be a great day to plant potatoes. Thelma cried, as she wanted to see all the people that would stop for a cone. Guess what? One car drove by that afternoon, and he was looking the other way. That ice cream couldn't have tasted better at suppertime - after the potatoes were planted.

At six years old, Thelma began her education in Langbank School and graduated with a grade twelve diploma. Often the children walked home after school two and a half miles and were warned over and over again not to accept rides from strangers. Seeing cars coming behind them, they often turned around and walked the other way so cars wouldn't stop. Sometimes their dad would give them a ride to school with the horses hitched to the rack, then he would stop off in a field and take a load of straw home. Their grandpa, A.B. Potter, also took the children to school with horses hitched to a cutter or in the summer by a car. Thelma went to Briercrest Bible School in 1940 and graduated in 1945. She applied for missionary work in India, however, was turned down because of heart health issues.

Thelma had a compassion for children and was always available for free babysitting. One wasn’t paid back then for such things. She took great pride in a niece, Thelma Sawyer, who was named after her and was always so pleased with news from her. Thelma taught Sunday School for years, as well as Daily Vacation Bible School in many areas. She worked at both Maryfield and Kenosee Bible Camps and spent a short time in the Northern Canada Evangelical office as a stenographer, where her aunt worked, before she had health problems again and returned home.

After her father passed away in 1964, Thelma and her mother stayed on the farm for a year before moving into a newly-built house in Whitewood on 816 Lalonde Street. While there Thelma volunteered and worked for ‘free’ at the town library, taught Sunday School in the Evangelical Church and held other positions there as well. The family will always appreciate her care of their mother down through the years, but many times they did wonder who was looking after whom. Alice Potter passed away in 1989 at the age of 95. She never stayed alone once at night because one of the family was always available.

Brother Earl occasionally stayed with Thelma in Whitewood in the summer while farming in the Wapella area; however, in the winter, for over 50 years, he worked at Caronport Bible College. Thelma loved that home of hers on Lalonde Street, but when she could no longer stay alone, it took a lot of begging and coaxing to get her moved into an apartment on Green Street in October of 2004. She was even offered the first month free. After Thelma fell out of bed one night, she was taken by ambulance to the Moosomin hospital April 11, 2005. A couple weeks later, she was sent to the Broadview nursing home, and on January 23, 2006, she entered the doors of Whitewood’s nursing home; she was there ten years, six months and eight days. The care Thelma received in these facilities down through the years was exceptional. Her family members aren’t the only ones who say, “What would we have done without the love, patience and care of the staff and doctors there.” Thelma really did miss Dr. Joomun stopping by and would forget when last he was there. Even when his visits were marked on her calendar, she would often say, “Oh, it wasn't that recent, my memory isn’t that bad yet.” She loved when the staff curled her hair, and she gave Ellen Yuhasz many compliments that I'm sure she never heard. Thelma told her sister, Maggie, that one day when she wanted her hair curled and no one was available to do it, she went down herself in the wheelchair and plugged in the curling iron. Then she added, “I wasn’t long getting some help.” Is it any wonder those working girls in the nursing home look so tired some days? Thelma also appreciated Pastor Joseph Steeves and his family visiting. They were so faithful down through the years. Then the next day she would say to sister, Maggie, “I don’t know when last I saw Pastor Joseph.” Even with Pastor Joseph’s busy schedule, he made the time and recently spent an hour and a half with Thelma, reading, praying and watching a video. Maggie mentioned she always knew when a member of his family had been to see Thelma because there would be a plant, card or picture of his girls on the table. These acts of kindness are never forgotten.

After suffering a couple strokes two years ago, Thelma’s health continued to decline. Today she is walking those streets of gold and visiting with family and friends. We know she’s not worrying about getting her hair curled.

Thelma was predeceased by her parents, Harvey and Alice Potter; her brother Earl Potter; her sisters Eileen (Bunny) Sawyer, Iris (Walter) Horn and Lorna (Art) Rashleigh. Left to cherish her memory is her sister, Maggie Horn, as well as many nieces and nephews.