Individual Details
Thelma Lorraine "Shushie" Erickson
(30 Sep 1931 - 24 Oct 2006)
HSO, 19Mar1953, p3
Lt. Col. and Mrs. Clarence P. Erickson announce the engagement of their youngest daughter, Thelma Lorraine, to Paul Charles Willink, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold A. Willink, Baldwin, Wis. No date has been set for the wedding.
Miss Erickson, a graduate of Hudson high school '50, is a junior at River Falls State college. Her fiance, a graduate of River Falls State college '53, is music and band director at Siren, Wis. Consolidated school.
HSO, 20 Aug 1964
One of the new teachers at the Baldwin-woodville area schools is a native Hudsonite, Mrs. Paul Willink. She is the former Thelma Lorraine Erickson, daughter of Col. and Mrs. C. P. Erickson.
SCAN, Dept of Aging, Hudson WI, Sep 2006
The following thoughts were contributed by Paul Willink, of Baldwin, who is a Caregiver for his wife, Thelma. The Department of Aging is very thankful to Paul for sharing this story describing their experiences coping with Thelma's memory loss.
When asked to do a story concerning my wife Thelma's slide into dementia, I thought "Well, why not?" (I prefer to use the term dementia since she has never been formally diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease). I know that every case is different depending on how the person who has dementia views things, how others react, the care and supoort (or lack thereof) given to the person, and a host of other variables. All I can do is try to describe our experience with the process to the present time.
Thelma was a bright woman who taught high school English for many years, directed all-school plays and musicals, and coached forensics. She was popular with most all of the students and her children and I were very proud of her. Later she came to work with me in our music store and did very capable work. She was always confident and each year could put together a buffet meal for 35 or so piano teachers who would meet at our store.
The threat of dementia was quite real to both of us. Her mother suffered from this for fourteen years. She spent the last nine years in a nursing home, the last few in a vegetative state. Soon after her mother died in 1994, we became aware that Thelma's older sister was following the same course. She died about four years ago in a care facility in California. If it occurs to you that this might be a bit frightening to our children, you are absolutely correct.
I have often tried to decide when Thelma's problems started. She had a number of other health problems which preceded the dementia. As we become senior citizens, I think nearly all of us start to have problems remembering common words and difficulty retaining new information. However, in Thelma's case, the memory loss seemed to be a bit more severe than what might seem "normal." This became apparent five or six years ago. She was quite aware of the problem and would sometimes become anxious and tell me that she felt "confused." Besides the memory loss, we became aware of her loss of confidence to do almost anything. The lady who could control 100 or more high school students during a production of "My Fair Lady," and who could organize meals for sizeable groups, could not muster enough confidence to plan a party for six family members or friends.
About four years ago, Thelma and I talked about the situation and agreed that "Yes, Thelma is having problems with her memory and it is becoming apparent to many of our friends." We made a decision to put this out-in-the-open. At a gathering of eight or so of our oldest friends, we made an announcement to the effect that Thelmas was having trouble and the best thing for them was to acknowledge it and work with us. They and many other friends have been wonderfully supportive.
As the disease progressed Thelma was less capable of fixing a meal and doing household chores, though some of her problems were related to her loss of physical strength due to other health issues. She always loved to talk. (The kids and I would sometimes tease her a bit by saying, "Now to make a short story long...") She gradually began to repeat things she might have said only moments before without realizing that she was being repetitious. She started having some problems with her balance and fell a few times. For me it became a problem to try to sleep as lightly as possible and get up with her in the night so that she didn't fall in the bathroom. She became less active and started to sleep more and more which gave me some peace but was something probably not the best for her maintenance of function.
About 18 months ago we were put in contact with the St. Croix County Department on Aging. Nancy Abrahamson came to our home and did an assessment of the situation. She let us know of the many services available to folks in our predicament. I did not know that there was such a department and was more than pleased for the help. We started by taking home-delivered meals. Later we got involved with the DayAway Club which provided beneficial activities for Thelma and gave me a chance to enjoy the day without worry. It is a very good program staffed, with the help of volunteers, who are experienced in helping people with cognitive and physical problems. I started attending caregiver support meetings which are held monthly in Hudson, River Falls, and New Richmond. Those meetings have been very beneficial for me because I could talk candidly with other folks who have similar situations.
We knew that sooner or later we were going to have to place Thelma into a care facility. I thought I was handling things quite well until she started to have more and more problems with incontinence. It simply got to be more than I could handle emotionally and physically. I visited some traditional nursing homes but decided to use an assisted living facility. It is designed to take people with a wide variety of physical and cognitive disabilities.
It was just one year ago that I put her there and I can hardly describe the guilty feelings I had for doing it, along with a great sense of loss. Friends and family would tell me that I should not feel guilty and that I had done the right thing for her. I wasn't convinced. Again, the Department on Aging came to my rescue. I had a chance to discuss my feelings and fears with a competent social worker and as time passed, I have become convinced that Thelma is getting much better care than I could possibly provide. Gradually I have come to realize that my own health is a worthwhile consideration.
Thelma is doing quite well and is contented. She gets excellent care and enjoys frequent visits from old friends although she is unlikely to remember the visits. I see her briefly most days and I still look forward to attending support meetings. I think that my experience has made it possible for me to be of help to others who come to the meetings as newcomers. [Thelma died not long after this article appeared]
Lt. Col. and Mrs. Clarence P. Erickson announce the engagement of their youngest daughter, Thelma Lorraine, to Paul Charles Willink, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold A. Willink, Baldwin, Wis. No date has been set for the wedding.
Miss Erickson, a graduate of Hudson high school '50, is a junior at River Falls State college. Her fiance, a graduate of River Falls State college '53, is music and band director at Siren, Wis. Consolidated school.
HSO, 20 Aug 1964
One of the new teachers at the Baldwin-woodville area schools is a native Hudsonite, Mrs. Paul Willink. She is the former Thelma Lorraine Erickson, daughter of Col. and Mrs. C. P. Erickson.
SCAN, Dept of Aging, Hudson WI, Sep 2006
The following thoughts were contributed by Paul Willink, of Baldwin, who is a Caregiver for his wife, Thelma. The Department of Aging is very thankful to Paul for sharing this story describing their experiences coping with Thelma's memory loss.
When asked to do a story concerning my wife Thelma's slide into dementia, I thought "Well, why not?" (I prefer to use the term dementia since she has never been formally diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease). I know that every case is different depending on how the person who has dementia views things, how others react, the care and supoort (or lack thereof) given to the person, and a host of other variables. All I can do is try to describe our experience with the process to the present time.
Thelma was a bright woman who taught high school English for many years, directed all-school plays and musicals, and coached forensics. She was popular with most all of the students and her children and I were very proud of her. Later she came to work with me in our music store and did very capable work. She was always confident and each year could put together a buffet meal for 35 or so piano teachers who would meet at our store.
The threat of dementia was quite real to both of us. Her mother suffered from this for fourteen years. She spent the last nine years in a nursing home, the last few in a vegetative state. Soon after her mother died in 1994, we became aware that Thelma's older sister was following the same course. She died about four years ago in a care facility in California. If it occurs to you that this might be a bit frightening to our children, you are absolutely correct.
I have often tried to decide when Thelma's problems started. She had a number of other health problems which preceded the dementia. As we become senior citizens, I think nearly all of us start to have problems remembering common words and difficulty retaining new information. However, in Thelma's case, the memory loss seemed to be a bit more severe than what might seem "normal." This became apparent five or six years ago. She was quite aware of the problem and would sometimes become anxious and tell me that she felt "confused." Besides the memory loss, we became aware of her loss of confidence to do almost anything. The lady who could control 100 or more high school students during a production of "My Fair Lady," and who could organize meals for sizeable groups, could not muster enough confidence to plan a party for six family members or friends.
About four years ago, Thelma and I talked about the situation and agreed that "Yes, Thelma is having problems with her memory and it is becoming apparent to many of our friends." We made a decision to put this out-in-the-open. At a gathering of eight or so of our oldest friends, we made an announcement to the effect that Thelmas was having trouble and the best thing for them was to acknowledge it and work with us. They and many other friends have been wonderfully supportive.
As the disease progressed Thelma was less capable of fixing a meal and doing household chores, though some of her problems were related to her loss of physical strength due to other health issues. She always loved to talk. (The kids and I would sometimes tease her a bit by saying, "Now to make a short story long...") She gradually began to repeat things she might have said only moments before without realizing that she was being repetitious. She started having some problems with her balance and fell a few times. For me it became a problem to try to sleep as lightly as possible and get up with her in the night so that she didn't fall in the bathroom. She became less active and started to sleep more and more which gave me some peace but was something probably not the best for her maintenance of function.
About 18 months ago we were put in contact with the St. Croix County Department on Aging. Nancy Abrahamson came to our home and did an assessment of the situation. She let us know of the many services available to folks in our predicament. I did not know that there was such a department and was more than pleased for the help. We started by taking home-delivered meals. Later we got involved with the DayAway Club which provided beneficial activities for Thelma and gave me a chance to enjoy the day without worry. It is a very good program staffed, with the help of volunteers, who are experienced in helping people with cognitive and physical problems. I started attending caregiver support meetings which are held monthly in Hudson, River Falls, and New Richmond. Those meetings have been very beneficial for me because I could talk candidly with other folks who have similar situations.
We knew that sooner or later we were going to have to place Thelma into a care facility. I thought I was handling things quite well until she started to have more and more problems with incontinence. It simply got to be more than I could handle emotionally and physically. I visited some traditional nursing homes but decided to use an assisted living facility. It is designed to take people with a wide variety of physical and cognitive disabilities.
It was just one year ago that I put her there and I can hardly describe the guilty feelings I had for doing it, along with a great sense of loss. Friends and family would tell me that I should not feel guilty and that I had done the right thing for her. I wasn't convinced. Again, the Department on Aging came to my rescue. I had a chance to discuss my feelings and fears with a competent social worker and as time passed, I have become convinced that Thelma is getting much better care than I could possibly provide. Gradually I have come to realize that my own health is a worthwhile consideration.
Thelma is doing quite well and is contented. She gets excellent care and enjoys frequent visits from old friends although she is unlikely to remember the visits. I see her briefly most days and I still look forward to attending support meetings. I think that my experience has made it possible for me to be of help to others who come to the meetings as newcomers. [Thelma died not long after this article appeared]
Events
| Birth | 30 Sep 1931 | Chickasaw, Chickasaw, Al | |||
| Graduation | 1950 | Hudson High School - Hudson, St. Croix, Wis |  | ||
| Marriage | 26 Dec 1953 | Hudson, St. Croix County, Wisconsin - Paul Charles Willink | |||
| Death | 24 Oct 2006 | Baldwin, St. Croix County, Wisconsin | |
Families
| Spouse | Paul Charles Willink (1930 - 2017) |
| Child | Mark Steven Willink |
| Child | Paula Sue Willink |
| Father | Clarence Palmer Erickson (1902 - 1980) |
| Mother | Jeannette Karine Stayberg (1905 - ) |
| Sibling | Clarence John "Junior" Erickson (1927 - 1953) |
| Sibling | Jeannette Karine "Sis" Erickson (1928 - 2002) |
Endnotes
1. Miller, Willis H. and Benoy, Marian Thorson, Hudson High School Alumni Directory Star-Observer Publishing Co., Hudson, Wis., 1973, p47.
2. U.S. Social Security Death Index .