Thelma Stevens

Thelma Moree (Stuart) Stevens was born on November 11, 1941 in Pawhuska, Osage County, Oklahoma. She was the youngest child of John Stuart and Lora Stuart (née Allison). She left this world on February 16, 2026 as she entered it—full of love and sass. She has now joined her husband, Henry, and children, Julia and Raymond in Heaven. Although gone, her memory lives on with her daughters, Lora, Krista, and Rebecca, grandchildren, Henry, Sebastian, Gabriel, Mariah, Brenna, Elizabeth, Peter, and Olivia, as well as great-grandchildren Julie, Ivy, Julian, and Moira, and with her beloved twin-brother, Douglas Stuart.

Thelma grew up on Dial Hill in Pawhuska with her twin brother, Doug and cousin, DJ. The three were affectionately known as Huey, Dewey and Louie. It was perhaps at this time that she developed her mischievous sense of humor, which she carried to the end of her life. As a teenager she attended Mount Saint Scholastica before attending college at Creighton University in Omaha and the University of Colorado-Boulder. It was in Omaha that she met Henry Stevens, and they were wed on August 10, 1963. They moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming where she adjusted to life in the west and the company of two German shepherds.

Thelma’s second act was as a homemaker. She was a fantastic mom—driving her daughters to endless afterschool activities, editing innumerable school essays, and using her deep and untapped artistic side on school projects. She attended countless school concerts and softball games. Often the disciplinarian, she had the patience of a saint and a profound desire that her daughters be well educated and exposed to all the splendors of America and the world. Each summer she loaded the family into the motorhome and toured the country from Mississippi to the Grand Canyon to Victoria, Canada. She impressed upon her daughters a deep belief that they could be whatever they wanted to be.

Her third act was as a guide to people. She was a receptionist at the Medical Building at St Vincents. She loved her job and helping others when they were uncertain and apprehensive. In addition to her work, she also volunteered at Always Our Children and helped mentor parents learning to support their children who were a part of the LGBQT community. She also supported many children throughout the world through donations and gifts and was a strong supporter of the Tomorrow Come Foundation. She took great pride in being the best resource she could be.

Her final act was a return to self-reliance. She left her beloved neighborhood, with the dearest people, to move to Westpark Village. There she made endearing and forever friends before moving to Liggett Cottage at St. Johns, where she gave endless sass, songs, and love to the fabulous people who took care of her in her final days.

And always she was a person of deep faith. A member of the Carmelites and St. Pius Catholic Church, she took comfort and joy in the liturgy of the eucharist. Her faith sustained her through the loss of her husband, two children, parents, brothers and sister. A mass celebrating her faith and love will be held Thursday, August 13th at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Billings with interment at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please help a child in need or look into volunteering with residents in their fourth act at a long-term care facility. Above all else, don’t forget to sing!

Memories are greatly appreciated and may be shared with the family at www.dahlfuneralchapel.com.