Thelma Hudson, daughter of Burton B. and Myrtle L. (Phillips) Hudson, was born March 15, 1910, in Russell, IA. Her maternal grandparents were Benjamin Franklin Phillips (b. 1860 near Centerville, IA - d. 1937 in Russell) and Mary Florence Hoover (b. 1863 in Chestnut, IL - d. 1935 in Russell).
Benjamin and Mary met and married in Chestnut, IL. They later moved to Council Grove, KS, and this is where Thelma’s mother, Myrtle Lorraine was born on June 14, 1888. The couple had nine children, (Effie, Ethel, Myrtle, Faye, Allie, Elizabeth, Katherine, Nor and Charlie), however their first child died in infancy. Benjamin moved his family from IL to Russell in the 1890’s, crossing the Mississippi in a covered wagon.
Thelma’s paternal grandparents were, Isaiah Thomas Hudson (b. 1849 in Nashville, TN - d. 1929 in Russell) and Sarah Ann Dyer (b. 1849 on a farm in Lucas Co. - d. 1933 in Russell).
Isaiah and Sarah were married in Lucas Co., and had five children (Dell, Burton, Harry, Ida & Aura). Thelma’s father, Burton B., was born on Sept. 13, 1883, near the Colyn area south of Russell.
It should be noted that at nine years of age, sand got into Sarah’s ears. The treatment for an earache in those days was to put warm honey in the ear, which Sarah’s mother did. Unfortunately the home remedy caused her to go completely deaf. It is said that although Sarah was unable to hear any of her babies cry, she seemed to simply sense when they needed her.
Burton Hudson married Myrtle Phillips on Sept. 2, 1908, in Chariton, IA. Their union was blessed with three children: Thelma Lucille in 1910; Doris Hilma on Feb. 21, 1914 in Leslie, IA; and Leonard Thomas on July 25, 1916 in Russell. All three graduated from Russell High School; Thelma in 1929; Doris in 1933 and Leonard in 1935.
As a child, when she wasn’t doing field work with a team of horses, Thelma (an avid reader), could usually be found curled-up in the hay mound with a book or on her secret grassy island, lying on her back and making pictures out of clouds.
In 1929, Thelma met Eugene Harold Foster (b. July 24, 1912 in Corydon, IA), while he was selling watermelons in Russell. Gene, as he was called, was the son of George Bert Foster (b. Sept. 5, 1877 in Lucas Co. - d. Sept 27, 1960 in Albia, IA), and Mary Elizabeth Cooper (b. Aug. 16, 1876 in Monroe Co., IA - d. Sept. 21, 1966 in Albia). He was the fifth of seven children - Lester, Lena, Evelyn, Eugene, Richard, and Maxine - a baby sister Wanda died in 1910. At the time of his meeting Thelma, he was living with his parents, north of Russell, in the coal mining town of Tipperary.
Thelma Hudson and Gene Foster traveled by train to Indianola, IA, and were married on Mar. 7, 1931. Gene, who was only seventeen at the time, printed the numbers 21 on a slip of paper and put it in his shoe. When asked by the Justice of the Peace how old he was, he replied that he was “over 21”.
The couple set-up housekeeping in Russell and on Oct. 13, 1931, the first of two daughters, Phyllis Eilene was born. Shirley Louise, also born at home, made her appearance on July 30, 1934. Gene supported his family by doing various odd jobs, including serving as Russell’s night watchman.
In 1938, Thelma’s brother and sister both married. Leonard on July 3rd to Wilma Duer, and Doris wed Lloyd “Red” Foutch on Aug. 6th. Each couple had one child - Dale “Butch” Foutch was born on Mar. 13, 1939, and Sharon Kay Hudson on Sept. 25, 1942.
In 1942, Thelma and Gene moved their family to Rockford, IL. While in IL Gene worked as an electrician until his retirement, in 1974, Thelma worked at J. L. Clark & Co., retiring in 1967.
Phyllis was unhappy in IL and moved back to Russell to live with her maternal grandparents. On Apr. 4, 1950 she married Darrell “Glen” Davis. The Davis’ had three children: Penny Lorraine was born Aug. 18, 1951; Glenda Jean on Apr. 17, 1954; and Michael Phillip on Aug. 26, 1959.
On Aug 28, 1952, the Foster’s younger daughter, Shirley, married Fredrick Connell in Rockford, IL. On Dec. 3, 1953 they had a daughter, Robin Lucelle. Shirley and Fred divorced and on Oct. 29, 1957, after moving back to Russell, Shirley married Duane Muril Elmore. They had one child, Ricky Burton, born July 4, 1958 in Corydon, IA.
On Dec. 1, 1969, Penny Davis married Cary Moser. Dorian Eileen was born on Oct. 29, 1974, and Justin Dale on July 23, 1976. Penny and Cary divorced and she married Tony Hendrickson on Dec. 25, 1977. She and her family live in Burlington, WI.
Glenda Davis married Daniel Jacobs on July 30, 1970. Crystal Ann was born on Apr. 10, 1972, and Daniel Lee on Dec. 29, 1975.
Crystal married Nick Defillipis on Sept. 29, 1990. Kayla Danielle, Thelma’s first great- great grandchild, was born Oct. 29, 1991. Glenda’s family lives in Pocatello, ID.
On Oct. 12, 1974, Robin Elmore and Ron Thompson were married in Chariton, IA. Tracey Danielle was born on Apr. 25, 1975, and Tucker Cullen on Apr. 25, 1978.
Trace was married to Shane Adolphi on Oct. 2, 1999 in Russell. Cullen Warren, the most recent addition to Thelma’s family, was born Jan. 31, 2000, in Ames, IA. Robin’s family resides in Russell.
On July 11, 1975, Ricky Elmore was married to Terry Werts, in Nashua, IA. Kelly Jo was born Dec. 14, 1975; Conrad Duane on Sept. 17, 1977; and Kayla Ann-Louise on July 5, 1981.
Kelly married Dave VanRyswyk on Mar. 4, 2000. A baby, Thelma’s 5th great-great grandchild, is due in July 2000. Rick’s family lives in Russell except for Kelly who lives in Chariton.
Micheal Davis married Teresa Stoor on June 10, 1978. They had a daughter Michelle in 1979.
Michelle married Tim Scroggins. They were blessed with twin daughters, Tiffany and Alicia, in 1995.
Micheal and Teresa divorced and he married Winifred Domagula on Oct. 28, 1993. They live in Las Vegas, NV.
Thelma has endured her share of heartache along the way: Her mother passed away Aug. 2, 1960, and her father on Apr. 15, 1974. She lost her daughter Shirley on Apr. 8, 1977, and her daughter Phyllis on Jan. 7, 1997. Also lost were her brother-in-law “Red” on Aug. 15, 1981; her brother Leonard on Dec. 8, 1982; a nephew “Butch” on Dec. 29,1989; her son-in-law Glen on July 16, 1992; and a sister-in-law Wilma on Mar. 11, 1994. Her husband Gene passed-away on Oct. 2, 1985, at which time she sold her home in IL and moved back to Russell.
Both Thelma and her sister Doris continue to live in their own homes in Russell, and on March 15, 1000, Thelma celebrated her 90th birthday.
Thelma Lucille (Hudson) Foster passed-away July 6, 2001.
