Edward Kenneth Thiesse

Edward Kenneth Thiesse, age 88 of Fayetteville, formerly of Elm Springs, went to be with the Lord on Feb. 19, 2014. He was born Nov. 23, 1925, in Little Rock, Iowa, the son of Fred "Fritz" and Esther Symens Thiesse. He was a member of the Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale. Mr. Thiesse had graduated from Little Rock, Iowa, High School and lived in the Little Rock area until moving to Willow Lake, S.D., in 1951. Mr. Thiesse had worked as a dairy farmer, seed corn dealer, board of directors for Land O' Lakes, and had been president of Lutheran Church Congregation. He moved to Elm Springs in 1974, where he was self-employed in the backhoe business. He served as the Mayor of Elm Springs for eight years. After retirement, the Thiesses moved to Butterfield Trail Village in Fayetteville. His hobbies included restoring antiques, sketching, hunting and storytelling. He was preceded in death by one brother, LaVerle Thiesse; and one sister, Dorothy Hassebroek. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Joyce Blinsmon Thiesse, of the home; seven children, Steven Thiesse and wife, Judy, of Mitchell, S.D., Monty Thiesse and wife, Lisa, of Olympia, Wash., Dennis Thiesse and wife, Sandy, of Shorewood, Minn., Marty Thiesse and wife, Melanie, of Springdale, Lori Miller and husband, Paul, of Springdale, Lesli Kramer and husband, Greg, of Slayton, Minn., and Trav Thiesse and wife, Katherine, of Katy, Texas; 19 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Graveside funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, 2014, at the Elm Springs Cemetery with Pastor Mark Krause officiating, under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home of Springdale. Visitation will be Thursday from 4 until 6 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Elm Springs Cemetery. Pallbearers will be sons and sons-in-laws. Memorials may be made to the Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale; or to Circle of Life Hospice.