Thelma Darlene Raines

Thelma Darlene (Shaw) Raines, age 91 of Vermillion SD, passed away peacefully on July 17th at the Sanford Vermillion Care Center, surrounded by the love of her entire family.

Thelma was born July 3, 1931 to Thomas and Julia (Griebel) Shaw in Stockton Kansas, where she graduated high school in 1949.  She attended Kansas State University and married Bobby Ray Raines on June 17, 1951.  They both attended Ft Hays State and lived in married student housing.  Their children Doug and Deb were born in Hays Kansas, and soon the family began moving around the country with oilfield jobs.  They lived in: Colorado, Wyoming, Michigan, North Dakota, Utah, Montana, New Mexico, and Long Beach California where they settled for almost 10 years until the kids graduated high school.  Then Bob and Thelma moved back to Casper Wyoming in 1975 and eventually moved to Denver Colorado where they enjoyed going to Broncos games, traveling, entertaining and camping with friends.  Throughout the years, even with all the moves, they made many long lasting friendships which they always cherished.  During Bob’s illness in 1987-88, they moved back to Stockton Kansas to help manage farm business and assist in the care of Thelma’s mother who lived to be 100 yrs old.  In 1995 Thelma moved to Vermillion South Dakota to be near Deb and family who had recently moved to a farm outside of town.  She also spent time each year with Doug and family in the San Francisco area and then in Atlanta GA.  To say “Grandma “T” has a special place in her grandkids hearts” is an understatement!

Thelma was an excellent seamstress, knitter, crafter, scrap booker, cook, lifelong bridge player, and belonged to many women’s organizations including Beta Sigma Phi, ESA, PEO, and was a lifelong learner (thanks to OLLI).  Thelma lost her husband to cancer at age 55 and her son at age 64.  She relished her family and her friendships and her independence.  Besides living in most of the states west of the Rockies, she traveled to Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Branson, East Coast, and Europe.

Thelma was preceded in death by her husband Bob, and her son Doug.  She is survived by her daughter Deb Mollet (Randy) of Vermillion, and grandchildren: Sarah Mollet Staiger (Michael), Nicole Mollet, Kayla Mollet, Daniel Mollet (Heather), Thomas Mollet (Stephanie); daughter-in-law Judy Raines; grandchildren, Ryan Raines, and Mathew Raines (Chelsey); seven great-grandchildren (Senna, Flora, Emelia, Oliver, Nova, Judah, Asher), a niece Elaine Dennison, and a nephew Gary Overley.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the United Church Of Christ, Vermillion at 2:00PM on Saturday July 30, 2022. Visitation will be held one hour prior.

Memorials to honor Thelma can be directed to UCC in Vermillion and Main St. Center in Vermillion.