Thelma was born March 26, 1924 in Alsuma, Oklahoma to Flora and Lonnie Rice. She grew up in Mena, Arkansas and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Gilbert (Gibby) Sodeman, Sr. of Momence, Illinois. Thelma is survived by her 5 children, Bobby Hough, Sue Brakeall, Trudy Hawthorne, Charlene Graham and Tina Waters; 11 grandchildren: Bryan, Steven, Robert Frank, Charles, Laura, Robert, Shawn, Shayla, Robert Joseph, Richard, Stephen and Dustin; 19 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren. Everyone loved Thelma and called her Granny. She will be missed by everyone around her. She loved to make dolls and her favorite pastime was putting a puzzle together.
The family would like to thank everyone at BridgeWater Assited Living in Avondale, AZ for taking wonderful care of her. During the Covid-19 pandemic they became her family too and took such loving care of her.