Thelma Joan Steele was born April 7, 1941, to Mary Agnes Scott Steele and William “Billy” Steele. She had eight siblings, all of whom have predeceased her: Frederick Richard Steele, Sr., Dorrance Dean Steele, Sr., Carlene Florence Steele, Theresa Catherine Steele Smoker, Trivian “Tiny” Scott Moore, Lonnie Ray Steele, Marlene Agnes Steele Talks Different, Mary Rose Melbourne Longtree. The Steele family moved to Portland, OR. After the 1948 Van Port Flood, the Family moved back to Poplar. Thelma attended high school in Poplar and Frazer. Her education was interrupted by marriage and raising children; she earned her GED in 1970. Thelma married George Buck Blount, Jr., on February 2, 1959. She and Junior had seven children and one adopted daughter: George William (Candy); Robin Wayne (Colleen); Sidney Rory (Theda); Natalie LaRae; Angela Pearl; Loni Geordean (Todd); Delane Faye (Angie); and Lynette Adams.
Two daughters, Natalie (2 ½ years old) and Angie (14 months old), tragically died in a house fire in Frazer in 1968. Thelma later had two more daughters, Loni and Delane. After the loss of her two baby girls, she always believed the Lord gave her two daughters to replace the two that were lost. Junior was killed in a car accident on March 25, 1973, 2 ½ miles east of Frazer on Highway 2. Thelma later married Larry Hamilton, they were divorced within a year. She lived with her long-time companion, Elliot Lynn Todd, for 22 years, until he passed in 2008. Together they built the Iron Horn Ranch south of Frazer.
Thelma endured great heart-breaking loss and, as a result, she became a strong woman of faith. Life events that could have made her weak and bitter, instead filled her with strength and resilience, love and compassion. She was known for her great hospitality; if you visited her, she would always feed you and invite you to stay and visit. Thelma was known for her quilt-making and ceramics. She loved the Frazer Community and invested her life there, as an educator and school board member (22 years), child and family advocate (12 years), tribal housing representative, post office assistant (6 years) and town mayor. She owned and operated her own business, Pahin Wakpa, an arts and crafts and convenience store, for three years.
Thelma was Mom, Grandma and Auntie to many, attesting to the respect, love, care and affection she bestowed on all whom she met. She had 8 children, 18 grandchildren and 53 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Family relations are the Blount, Steele, Scott, Culbertson, Red Eagle, Foote, Red Bear, Long Hair, Buckles, Raining Bird, Talks Different, Smoker, Wallette and Round Face.
Thelma will be buried in Oswego Presbyterian Cemetery, next to her husband Junior, her son Sidney and her two daughters, Natalie and Angie. Services will be at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at the Frazer School.