"We don't know about tomorrow, all we need to know is that we love each other." – Charley Mackesy

Our dear mother, grandmother and sister, Deanne Carol Thennis, passed away in the early morning hours on Sunday, March 10thafter a brief illness. She was 87 years old.

Deanne, the daughter of Bert and Henrietta Hanson, was born on January 9, 1937 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She graduated from Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis in 1955. After high school, she briefly attended St. Cloud State University. It was here in Minneapolis, sitting next to her grandfather, where she developed her love of sports and became a diehard fan of the Twins and Vikings. Throughout her life, she loved her frequent chats with her sister about the trials and tribulations of her beloved Minnesota teams.

In 1965, Deanne married Jim Thennis. After their oldest son was born, they moved to Helena, Montana were they lived for 57 years. When times were challenging for the family, Deanne went back to school and eventually worked for the State of Montana at the Department of Livestock where she retired after 18 years.

Her favorite place was with her family every summer at her parent's cabin on the shores of North Long Lake in Brainerd, Minnesota. She loved to watch the sunsets on the lake, listen to the soothing sounds of the loons and soak her toes in the water off the dock.

Deanne and Jim raised their family on Choteau Street in Helena. She loved her neighborhood and loved the impromptu gatherings with the other families.  The families from the old neighborhood were always dear to her heart. She also loved tending to her many flower gardens each summer.

Deanne was a great model to all of her children and she was always our number one fan, but we all took a back seat upon the arrival of each of her 8 grandkids. Even as she was failing in health, she loved to look at pictures of her grandkids and proudly shout, "look at my beautiful grandchildren".

Deanne was preceded in death by her parents, Bert and Henrietta Hanson, and her husband Jim. Survivors include her sister, Roberta (Denny) Johnson, her 4 children Steve (Anna) Thennis, Christine (Matt Culpo) Thennis, Tracey (Bryan Bird) Thennis and David (Stephanie) Thennis, and her beloved grandchildren Jackson, Maria, Andrew, Eva, Joe, Riley, Gavin and Kaden. In her final days it was the voices and love of her grandchildren that brought her the greatest joy.

A memorial service will be held at Simple Cremation/Sunset Funeral Service, 315 E. 6th Ave. Helena at 11:00 a.m. on June 10th.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Angel Fund of Helena.

How to Donate

Your contribution allows The Angel Fund to continue helping children in the Helena School District. If you need more information or would like to make a donation, please contact:

Janet Riis 406-459-1889 theangelfundmt@gmail.com or Marcia K. Wall 406-439-1672 P.O. Box 7436, Helena, MT 59604