Obituary of Nelda D Thornburg

Nelda Delight Nold Thornburg, 100, passed away on October 26, 2023 at the Lemay Avenue Health and Rehabilitation Facility in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Nelda was born in Parker, South Dakota September 7, 1923 to George Jacob Nold and Mary Elizabeth Nicholson Nold. She was raised on the family farm in South Dakota with five brothers and one sister. In 1940 she graduated from Parker High School. After graduating from South Dakota State College in 1944 with a degree in Home Economics, she accepted a position as County Extension Agent in Hot Springs.

Nelda met Ashley Alvin Thornburg when he returned home from World War II and they were married on December 21, 1947 in Parker, South Dakota. They welcomed two girls, Caryl Jeanne and Erica Lynn to their family.  Ashley completed his degree at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado.  They lived in San Antonio and Victoria, Texas where he worked in an experimental plant nursery for the Soil Conservation Service.  In 1959 they moved to Bridger, Montana where Ashley accepted a position as Plant Materials Manager at the newly established Plant Materials Center. Nelda taught Home Economics and Science at Bridger High School for eight years. When Ashley was promoted, they moved to Bozeman, Montana where he was the grass specialist for Montana and Wyoming. Thereafter, they moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where he was the Regional Director for the Soil Conservation Service.

Nelda was actively involved in each community where they were always recognized for their generous hospitality. After retirement, they moved to Sedona, Arizona to golf, play bridge and enjoy bird watching. Anxious to explore Texas again, they moved to Canyon Lake where they resided for several years. They moved to The Wexford in Loveland, Colorado to be near Erica, Mark, and her family. She enjoyed the sense of community the retirement home offered after Ashley died in 2010. Nelda was an accomplished seamstress and cook. These specialties she passed on to Caryl and Erica who appreciated her patient direction.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ashley Thornburg and her grandson, Kevin Powers.  Survivors include her daughters, Caryl (Charles) Powers of Great Falls, Montana and Erica (Mark) Hammer of Loveland, Colorado and Livingston, Texas. Her grandchildren include Ken (Kendra) Powers (Tacoma, Washington), Ryan (Betty) Hammer (Houston, Texas) and Aaron (Emily) Hammer (Houston, Texas). Her great-grandchildren are Nicholas and Emily Powers, Ashley, Luke and Colin Hammer, and Clara and Andy Hammer. She was also survived by her sister-in-law Janet Voas, and several nephews and nieces who have kept in touch and visited her over the years.

Cremation has been conducted and no services are planned.