Thyra Soberg

Thyra Nadine Soberg was born April 14, 1925 to Frank and Lena Fleishman in Oregon City, Oregon. She passed away on Friday, February 7, 2020 in Pryor.  She is survived by her son, Larry Soberg and wife Jody of St. Louis, Missouri, daughters Jean Stevens of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Linda Nance and husband Rick Nance of Adair, Oklahoma, Andy Patrick of Lees Summit, Missouri, Susan Soberg of Adair, Oklahoma, brother Vernon Fleishman and wife Linda of Camas, Washington, sister LuAnn Carlson of Babbit, Minnesota, 7 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild, and many other relatives and friends.  She is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Lena Fleishman, husband, Harry Soberg, sister and brother in law, Wendell and Rae Gleason, and brother Frank Fleishman.

Thyra traveled by train when she moved to Minnesota in 1947 to help her sister Rea Gleason when Rea’s first son, Gary was born.  While in Minnesota, Thyra became a student at Apostolic Bible Institute.  In February 1948 as a young Bible College student, she met the love of her life, Harry Soberg.  They were married June 25, 1948

Thyra and Harry had 5 children; Jean, Larry, Linda, Andy and Susan.  Thyra was very involved in her local church, Midway Tabernacle, and took her 5 children to church services 5 days per week.  They had services on Tuesday and Thursday nights; Thyra taught Saturday morning Hobby Club and Sunday school, and the family returned to church Sunday night for the evening service.  The evening services often lasted until 11 pm but she managed to have all 5 children there, even in the harsh Minnesota weather.

A talented seamstress, Thyra sewed most of the clothing that her girls wore; and each of them had an assigned color that she would make their clothing from.  Her husband Harry was a hard worker who at the time drove a fuel truck and was gone over 12 hours every day.  She put all 4 girls long hair in rag curls, and while she was fixing their hair their brother Larry was toasting a loaf of bread and fixing hot chocolate for the ladies of the household.   Thyra made sure her little brood was always tidy and on time wherever they went.

Thyra was a woman of many talents.  She was a wonderful homemaker and loved to cook and bake.  When her kids would come home from school, there were warm, home baked goodies on the counter most days.  She was known for her pies, cookies and brownies and was also a gifted crafter.  She enjoyed crocheting for her family and even won a ribbon from the Mayes County Fair for a crocheted animal she made while she was a resident in Colonial Terrace Nursing Home.  All of her grandkids received a hand crocheted blanket when they married, and her great grandbabies all received a crocheted baby blanket for as long as she was able to make them.

Thyra loved nature; especially birds, and treated her dogs like they were her kids.  She would take walks outside and loved to report on all of the flora and fauna she had spotted on her walk.  She would give her great grandkids jars to store the bugs they found when they were playing outside.  She loved game shows and comedy shows and was Lawrence Welk’s biggest fan.  She enjoyed Big Band music, and she loved to play the organ in her home and sing hymns when she had put her kids to bed.

Thyra was a whiz at crossword puzzles and loved to play Scrabble.  She was very competitive when she played games and was a stickler for the rules.  She loved toy stores and toys, especially anything that could be wound up or had buttons to make the toy sing, dance or speak.

Thyra was a faithful saint of God.  She read her Bible through every single year.  She made her relationship with God a priority in her life.  When interviewed by The Paper in Pryor and asked to give advice to its readers, she said “Find a good church and get right with God.”.