Thelma Marguerite (Dickinson) Liebertz, 99, of Duluth, passed away Thursday, April 9, 2015 at Essentia Health St. Mary’s, after a brief illness.
She was born in Marion Twp., Michigan on November 20, 1915, the oldest of five children, to William and Mina (Stoner) Dickinson. She graduated from Owosso High School in Owosso, Michigan, in 1933.
Thelma was employed as a telephone switchboard operator at a small southern Michigan telephone company, and “distinctly remembered” reporting immediately for work on the morning of December 7, 1941. There she fielded calls for the Army base concerning the tragedy at Pearl Harbor. For the duration of World War II she assisted soldiers at Fort Custer, Michigan placing calls to families at home.
There she met and married her first husband, Ralph Brooks Baker. After he left for the war in Europe, she gave birth to their daughter, Gay Lynne. Major Ralph Baker never returned from the war.
In 1948 she married Carl Fredrick “Fred” Liebertz, who preceded her in death in 1994. She was also employed by Michigan Bell Telephone Company and Wayne Oakland Bank. Thelma and Fred owned and operated R&L Trucking Company and Gay’s Bean Pot in Michigan.
Together with their daughter Gay Lynne, they purchased Trail Center Resort in Northeastern Minnesota on the Gunflint Trail, and operated it for 20 years. While at the resort she was best known for her pies which she baked fresh daily. Upon “retiring” at 69 from the resort business, the family moved to Duluth where she began her next career opening Papillon Limited at Fitger’s, a collectibles gift shop. She “officially” retired in 1998 at 83 years of age.
She was loved by her family and many friends in Duluth, the Gunflint Trail, Edgewood Vista and Eastridge Community Church. At 99, she insisted she was not old! She was known for her feisty spirit, independence and optimistic demeanor. She truly was the last of her generation.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Mina Dickinson, brother Dale (Francis) Dickinson, sisters Doris (Al) Buschman and Anna (Don) Lahman and brother Clarence (Joan) Dickinson.
Surviving are her daughter Gay Lynne Liebertz of Pentwater, Michigan and stepson Frederick Coulton (Nancy) Liebertz of Twin Lake, Michigan, step grandchildren, step great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and-nephews and greatgreat nieces and -nephews.
Services were held on Monday, April 13 at Eastridge Community Church on W. Arrowhead Road in Duluth. Officiating were her pastors Fred Lund and Tom Asbury.
Memorials may be given to Eastridge Community Church, 3727 W. Arrowhead Rd., Duluth, MN 55811 or Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department, Treasurer, 7401 Gunflint Trail, Grand Marias, MN. 55604 or online at www.gunflint911.org.
Arrangements by Williams- Lobermeier-Boettcher Funeral Home.
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