Satanta - Thelma Mae Miller, 95, died March 22, 2012 at Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Liberal . She was born on August 9, 1916 near Tanner, West Virgina, the daughter of Thurman and Grace (Henkle) Weaver.

Thelma was raised in a rural area near Tanner, West Virginia where she attended school in a one room schoolhouse. She then attended high school in Tanner. On August 15, 1934, she married Rex Franklin Miller in Wheeling, West Virginia. He preceded her in death on March 30, 2002. They lived in West Virginia until 1945 when Rex was transferred to Satanta when the Hugoton gas fields opened. Thelma worked for the Satanta Grade School as a dietician. In 1965, she became a licensed beautician. She and Rex later moved to Gruver, Texas and Guymon, Oklahoma before returning to Satanta in 1970. They loved to travel and camped all over the United States and Canada. Thelma crocheted many items for newborns at the Satanta Hospital and the Southwest Kansas Medical Center in Liberal. She also made stocking caps for Headstart students in Satanta.

She was a member of the Satanta Methodist Church and the Order of the Eastern Star where she served as Worthy Grand Matron.

Thelma is survived by one daughter, Patricia Balzer and husband Lawrence of Hooker, Oklahoma; one son, Rex Miller, Jr.and wife Sue of Mounds, Oklahoma; one brother, Gene Weaver of Parkersburg, West Virginia; one sister, Lucy Zickefoos of Silver Springs, Maryland; three grandsons, Steve Bryant and wife Donna of Borger, Texas, Larry Bryant of Tyrone, Oklahoma, and Dr. Larry Balzer and wife GayeLynn of Woodward, Oklahoma; six grandaughters, Tanya Schiffner and husband Rick of Cimarron, Tami Kinsey of Norman, Oklahoma, Shannon Springer and husband Steve of Glen Pool, Oklahoma, Chara Garcia and husband Dan of Mounds, Oklahoma, Sandy Brisendine of Liberal, and Connie Brandel and husband Dr. Dan Brandel of Springfield, Oregon; six great grandsons; four great granddaughters; six great-great grandsons; and one great-great granddaughter. In addition to her husband Rex, Thelma is preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Roger Weaver.

A memorial service will be held at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Liberal on Monday, March 26, 2012 at 3:00 PM with Chaplin Judy Barnes presiding. A private family burial will be held at Dudley Township Cemetery in Satanta. Visitation will be at the Satanta United Methodist Church on Sunday, March 25, 2012 from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to Happy Agers-Senior Site of Satanta in care of Swaim Funeral Home – 1901 Sixth Ave – Dodge City, KS 67801. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.