Service for Thelda Boen will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at MMS-Payne Funeral Home Chapel, burial will follow at Oakhaven Memorial Gardens. Friends may visit at the funeral home on Tuesday, January 15 from 1pm-8pm, with family receiving visitors from 6pm-8pm. Thelda passed away on Thursday, January 10th, 2019. She was 89.
Thelda Lee Rucker Boen was born on June 18, 1929 in Muskogee Oklahoma to John M. Rucker and Iva B. (Wilson) Rucker. She was raised in rural Rogers County and graduated from Claremore High School in 1946. She met William J. Lantow, and they were married in Sherman Texas in 1946.
Thelda was very much involved in her children and grandchildren’s many different activities. She was also involved in many civic and community affairs. At one point in her life she raised and raced quarter horses. For many years she was active in Cherokee Indian affairs including being a member of the Pocahontas club. In 2015, Thelda was awarded the Cherokee National Community Leadership Award. She was very proud of her Cherokee heritage.
Thelda was a doer and if someone needed help to get something done, they called Thelda. One of her friends said “you always want her on your side-not the other”. She retired from the Claremore Indian Hospital after more than 20 years of service. Thelda was saved and became a Christian as a young girl. Serving the Lord was always an important part of her life. She always made sure her children were raised in church and knew about the Lord. She was active in playing the piano in churches and even nursing homes where she was eventually called home to be with the Lord.
Preceding her in death were her parents, brothers, Wayne Rucker, Johnny Rucker, husbands William Lantow, and Howard Boen.
Surviving family include her children William “Billy” Lantow and Bernadine McCall, Iva Suzanne Voss and Larry, and Dana Richardson and Gary; aunt Jean Haas and husband Charles, grandchildren John Lantow, Shana Fabian and Brian, Kendall Purdom and William, Daniel Voss and Chenoa, Rebekah Voss, Zech Richardson, Kristin Richardson, and River Lantow. She also had many nieces, nephews, and numerous great-grandchildren.
Those who wish to honor Thelda's memory may contribute to a charity of their choice.