Lucille (Welsh) Tvedt

Our mother, Lucille Elizabeth Welsh, was born in Lake City, Iowa, on July 24, 1928 to parents, William and Mary (Collins) Welsh. On the 27th of August, 2021, she arrived at the gates of Heaven to receive her reward.

As a student at St. Mary’s Catholic High School in Marshalltown, Iowa, Lucille met her future husband, Bob. During her senior year, she was elected Homecoming Queen; and it would seem that our Dad had picked a winner! So lovely and sweet, she was the apple of his eye! They were introduced through Mom’s brother, Bud, who played basketball for St. Mary’s. As competitors, Dad and Bud had become friends. Intending to capture Mom’s heart, Dad pursued her, hoping to receive her hand in marriage. Our mother’s handsome suitor prevailed, and on February 28, 1949, they were married.

Remembering our mother brings to mind things her little girls dreamed of! (For our brother, I think he mostly remembers that he was Mom’s favorite!) To us girls, she was so beautiful with her glamorous hair, movie star looks, pretty dresses and her fabulous high heels! I’m confident that we (the girls) all took turns in her closet trying on and admiring those amazing shoes! In our eyes, Mom and Dad were certainly the most handsome couple in the world . . . To us, Montour, Iowa WAS the world!

As children, we were mostly unaware of the remarkable talents and generosity our mom possessed. She exercised her hospitality in so many ways. As a farm wife, she tirelessly prepared meals for the men that came to help Dad during seasons of harvesting. During the summer, she often invited our “city cousins” for extended visits to get a real taste of life on the farm. Our home was always full of friends and neighbors, our girlfriends, our boyfriends. Everyone was welcome, and many holidays we even had guests from distant lands. Mom did not believe that anyone should ever be without a place to celebrate holidays . . . especially on Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Her industrious nature bloomed in whatever she put her hand and heart to. Home renovations, refinishing furniture and floors, cooking and baking (especially her famous homemade rolls), sewing, gardening, and giving us opportunities as children that she never had. It did not end there. Her love for her horses was manifested in countless winnings of competitions. Though she trained her horses as diligently as she did her children, she chose to stand in the background and never claimed credit.

There was one more thing . . . She “wrote the book” on being a grandmother and great-grandmother! She was great at it because there were plenty to practice on! Of all those generations of babies, none will forget her adventurous spirit, her grandma stories, and the love she poured out on “her” children. She was courageous, faithful, fearless and relentless in her sacred calling of wife, mother and grandmother!
(“And her children rise up and call her blessed!” Pr. 31:28)

As she grew older, another gifting emerged. Few people knew the considerable range of her talents, especially her artistry. Our home reflected her own sense of style and beauty . . . but little did we know in those early years how adept she was in unveiling, on canvas, the splendor of God’s creation.

I’m sure she hardly could have imagined what the next 70 years would hold. Some of her greatest victories besides raising seven children, included sharing with others the opportunity to meet Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. Many of these were often considered those of little consequence, but she considered no soul to be insignificant or unworthy to her or the Lord. She loved the Word; it was planted in her heart. And that was the fruit that she shared with the world.

Most importantly, as our family grew up, we saw in Mom the light and love of faith in Jesus. I’m sure one of her greatest joys was that her little flock had all embraced Jesus too.

There is so much more, but the realization of her love and effort on our behalf only sweetens the love we have for her. Having her as our mom has been a rich and precious privilege. We thank God for her and rejoice in her victory today!

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert A. Tvedt.

Survivors include: daughters Teresa Pagan, Waukee, IA; Deborah Peters, West Des Moines, IA; Collette Brammer, Des Moines, IA; Mary Hoffa, Lakeland, TN; Elizabeth Cabral, Waukee, IA; Jackie Zein, Haverhill, IA; and son, William Tvedt, Oskaloosa, IA.

Visitation will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, September 2, 2021, at Rock Power Church, 3119 SW 30th, Des Moines, Iowa. Funeral will follow at 11 a.m. Burial at 2:30 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery, Montour, IA.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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