1954
Denise
2008
Denise Thurston
October 18, 1954 — December 9, 2008
Denise Thurston (Schlimme) entered into this life in Graceville, Minnesota on October 18, 1954. Her parents, Otto and Monica Schlimme, raised Denise with her brothers Elliot and Rydell. Denise was baptized into to the Catholic religion in the Holy Rosary Catholic Church.
Denise worked at various places such as Dorons, DAC, and Fingerhut before marrying Rich Thurston of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota. They resided in Black Hawk, South Dakota, before moving to Glenco, Minnesota, and from there to Montevideo, Minnesota, then Rapid City South Dakota ending up at Clinton, Minnesota to run Computer Technical Services with her husband. She later worked at the Good Samaritan Center in Clinton for 5 years finally having to quit around 1993 because of health problems. Denise was also a member of the Ladies VFW Auxiliary and collected anything to do with angels.
Later the Mayo Clinic diagnosed her with CREST Syndrome in 1997. She stayed busy visiting with friends, relatives, reading, and playing with her cats. Later she started a web site called “Living and enjoying life with CREST Syndrome” to aid others who are afflicted with the disease. To date her site has been viewed by almost every country in the world and many were helped either by emailing her or getting the information from her site at http://www.geocities.com/crestsyndrome
She always had a great sense of humor when presented with things others would have said “OH NO” to. When she went to the Mayo they asked her if they could study her so of course she said yes and the parade of doctors began with a count somewhere around 38. When the day came they all piled into her little room with virtually no place left to stand and the head of Rheumatology proudly announced she had CREST and began telling her what disease was named for each letter. When he finished he asked her if she had any questions or concerns and Denise surprisingly proclaimed “Thank God it wasn’t Pepsodent” Breaking up an entire room of doctors into laughter. Throughout the next 11 years she kept her sense of humor to her very last day where her rule for visitors was “You have to bring a present to get in to see me” There was also a mysterious plaque that happened to show up from a friend who knew her sturdy and fiery attitude towards being in the hospital that read “Dragons Lair” Upon seeing this she commented with a chuckle, “Well, if this is the Dragons lair then I guess I’m the dragon Lady”
Those who were fortunate enough to have known her have all had their lives touched by her. She leaves piles of smiles behind and that is the way she wanted it.
She is preceded in death by her parents Otto and Monica Schlimme and survived by her Saint of a husband Rich, God-like brothers Elliot Schlimme (Jean) and Rydell Schlimme.
Gotcha that time Dee Dee
I know what she would have said back. “Well, If you’re a saint and my brothers are god-like then I guess that makes me a Saint-like Goddess with humble servants.
We will miss you Dee Dee
Denise worked at various places such as Dorons, DAC, and Fingerhut before marrying Rich Thurston of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota. They resided in Black Hawk, South Dakota, before moving to Glenco, Minnesota, and from there to Montevideo, Minnesota, then Rapid City South Dakota ending up at Clinton, Minnesota to run Computer Technical Services with her husband. She later worked at the Good Samaritan Center in Clinton for 5 years finally having to quit around 1993 because of health problems. Denise was also a member of the Ladies VFW Auxiliary and collected anything to do with angels.
Later the Mayo Clinic diagnosed her with CREST Syndrome in 1997. She stayed busy visiting with friends, relatives, reading, and playing with her cats. Later she started a web site called “Living and enjoying life with CREST Syndrome” to aid others who are afflicted with the disease. To date her site has been viewed by almost every country in the world and many were helped either by emailing her or getting the information from her site at http://www.geocities.com/crestsyndrome
She always had a great sense of humor when presented with things others would have said “OH NO” to. When she went to the Mayo they asked her if they could study her so of course she said yes and the parade of doctors began with a count somewhere around 38. When the day came they all piled into her little room with virtually no place left to stand and the head of Rheumatology proudly announced she had CREST and began telling her what disease was named for each letter. When he finished he asked her if she had any questions or concerns and Denise surprisingly proclaimed “Thank God it wasn’t Pepsodent” Breaking up an entire room of doctors into laughter. Throughout the next 11 years she kept her sense of humor to her very last day where her rule for visitors was “You have to bring a present to get in to see me” There was also a mysterious plaque that happened to show up from a friend who knew her sturdy and fiery attitude towards being in the hospital that read “Dragons Lair” Upon seeing this she commented with a chuckle, “Well, if this is the Dragons lair then I guess I’m the dragon Lady”
Those who were fortunate enough to have known her have all had their lives touched by her. She leaves piles of smiles behind and that is the way she wanted it.
She is preceded in death by her parents Otto and Monica Schlimme and survived by her Saint of a husband Rich, God-like brothers Elliot Schlimme (Jean) and Rydell Schlimme.
Gotcha that time Dee Dee
I know what she would have said back. “Well, If you’re a saint and my brothers are god-like then I guess that makes me a Saint-like Goddess with humble servants.
We will miss you Dee Dee