Thelma "Tiny" Elwess

Thelma Mae Elwess (Pettegrew), age 92, passed away on January 27th, 2026, at Crestview Care Center. Thelma (Tiny) was born on November 4, 1933, to Rodney Loree Pettegrew and Ida Harnish.

Tiny attended Pettegrew grade school. She Graduated from Chadron Prep High School. And she received an Elementary School Teaching Certificate from the State Teachers College at Chadron. Tiny taught at two country schools and at the Oelrichs school.

Mother sang with her sister Tootie for many events. Mom would tell us how lucky she was to get to go to all of the many banquets and other civic events that they were invited to sing at. They sang for many years for the Veterans Home in Hot Springs. They also sang on the Ellis Hale TV Show, and later the Ellis Hale Radio Show.

On February 18, 1955, Tiny married Leonard Douglas Elwess. She helped with milking cows, chickens, and gardening. Then, when the Super 8 was built, Mother was one of the first employees hired to clean rooms. She worked there for several years and then moved on to work at the Best Western. Mother started at Walmart in 1997 and worked there for about 15 years.

Tiny is survived by Daughter Laura Sue Elwess of Malcom, NE; Son Delwin Douglas (Karla) Elwess of Chadron, NE; Son Leonard Loree (Patty) Elwess of Chadron, NE; Daughter Gwendolyn Kay (Bruce) Dobberstein of Chamberlain, SD; 12 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.

She is preceded in death by her husband Leonard Douglas Elwess.