William Sarjeant Thielman

He was born September 6, 1927 in Lewistown, Montana was raised on a farm near Roy, Montana, then moved with his mother Julia and father William “ Bill” Thielman to another farm near Lewistown, Montana.

He graduated from Lewistown High School June 1, 1945.

Bill served in the U.S. Army of Occupation of Japan as a Military Policeman after the end of WWII from October 1946 until honorably discharged January 1, 1948.

He used the G.I. Bill to help him attend Montana School of Mines in Butte, Montana. Bill graduated as an “Advanced Honor Student” in June 1952 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering. Bill was proud to have held several jobs while in school to help him pay for his education. He sold peanuts in vending machines, picked up and delivered laundry, raised chinchillas and was a bill collector among other things.

Bill married the love of his life, Lillian Barth, in Butte, Montana June 11, 1950.

After college he worked as a “roughneck” on oil rigs in different locations in North Dakota. He and Lilly then moved to Casper, Wyoming and then to Denver, Colorado. He was employed in Denver by U. S. Steel Corporation, later Dobbs Detroit Diesel as a salesman for oil field steel and pipe and engines.

Bill acquired Boulder Electric Motor Company in 1975 and later Larimer Electric Motor Co. in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1977. He operated these businesses with his son Billy Thielman for 41 years closing the businesses in 2016.

Bill was an avid golfer and handball player. One of his golf “claims to fame” was that he had shot a score of 80 while he was 80 years old. He became a well-known “older” handball player because he was still playing handball at age 90.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 75 years, Lillian Thielman.

Bill is survived by their children: daughter, Debra Hays, husband Ron Hays, of Fort Morgan, Colorado, his son William “Billy” Thielman, of Lakewood, Colorado and daughter Valerie Tinsley and husband Patrick Tinsley of Boulder Colorado. Grandchildren Ryan Hays of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Erin Youngs and husband Joshua Youngs of Fort Morgan, Colorado , Tamara Layman and husband Ananda Layman, Tatiana Tinsley and husband Tom Arthur, Bryanna Tinsley and Tennyson Tinsley; Greatgrandchildren Dylan Youngs, Ty Fix-Rose, Paige Youngs and Jacob Youngs of Fort Morgan, Colorado, Saul Layman; Sofie Layman; Aiyanna Asim-Ali; Olive Arthur. All of Boulder, Colorado.