Thelma Pearl Eliece (Lester) Vrana was born Nov 2, 1931, to Joseph P. and Fern Vida Lester. She grew up outside of Charbonneau, ND with seven siblings and attended a one-room schoolhouse. Thelma would walk to school with her siblings and remembers getting stranded at the schoolhouse during the Ides of March Blizzard of 1941. At age 10 she stayed with her mother’s aunt, and like many children of this era, she learned the functions of living including: the names of flowers, crocheting, and the basics of sewing. When she was older, her family moved into town, and she attended a two-room school. She did household chores for a neighbor on the weekends to earn her “book money” and she was able to complete her high school education by correspondence. After high school, Thelma attended Dickenson State Teachers College (DSTC) and met her future husband “Eddy” Edward Vrana. They married on June 12, 1952, and were together for a total of 62 years. During their marriage, they lived in many states, but in 1969 they set their roots in Upton, Wyoming. After her children had grown up, Thelma found work at multiple locations in town including the Western Cafe, Upton School lunchroom, Traffic Control for the Wyoming Highway Department, and Weston Inn Motel. She enjoyed many aspects of life, but most of all she adored caring for her family, watching her grandchildren grow, spoiling her great-grandchildren, helping others, loving the Lord, and spending time with her siblings. She was a very strong woman who survived many ailments during her long life, including beating cancer in August of 1998. Thelma peacefully passed into the arms of the Lord surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren on December 2, 2025. She was a blessing to everyone that knew her for the last 94 years and one month (to the day) that she was on this Earth.

She is survived by her sister Hazel Brossman (Lander, Wy) and her five children and their spouses:

Virginia “Ginny” Claar and Dick Ehman (Gillette, Wy), Virginia has three children Shawn, Paul and JoJo. Paul has a daughter Kierra (who has three children Kianna, Walker and Kelbie). JoJo has three children Sammie (who has two children Embree and Cypress), Paige and Dominic (who has one child Rowan).

George and Betty Vrana (Upton, Wy), George has one child Tiffany. Tiffany has one child John (who has one child Hannah). Betty has one child Justin who has three children Andrew, Kade and Stetsen.

Delila and Mike Anderson (Upton, Wy) who has three children Nathan, Matthew, and Amber. Matthew has three children Mason, Kaylee, and Gracie. Amber has two children Owyn and Finnegan.

Joe and Beverly Vrana (Upton, Wy) who has five children Kayla, Wade, Amy, Wendy and Yasmine. Kayla has five children Holly, Jayden, Jerrica, Keira, and Huntley. Wade has four children Haven, Cayden, Izzy, Reagan. Wendy has two children Rowynn and Maverick. Yasmine has two children Tayce and Madden.

Diana and Tom McMillan (Upton, Wy) has three children Justin, Tami and Joel. Justin who has three children Andrew, Kade and Stetsen.

She is preceded in death by: her parents, beloved husband Eddy, three brothers (Tom, Joseph, Lloyd), three sisters (Annie, Ida, Elsie), and her grandson Shawn.

“As the family grew, the love and caring did too” ~ Thelma

Memorial services will be held at 1:00PM Sunday, December 7, 2025, at the Upton Community Center in Upton, WY. 

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel of Sundance. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com