Nada F. Thoden

Nada Louise Fell Thoden, 71, died August 6, 2014, surrounded by family at her home in Paola, KS. Nada was born in Pratt, KS on January 16, 1943 to George Louis Fell, Jr. and Naomi Mary Fell. She lived in Pratt and Byers, KS until age 3, when the family moved to Simla, Colorado. In 1956, the family moved to Greeley, Colorado, where Nada attended Meeke Junior High and graduated, in 1961, from Greeley High School. Nada was a proud graduate of Colorado State University, earning a degree in Home Economics Education in 1965. It was in 1965, that Nada returned to her Kansas roots to start her career as Extension Home Economist for Miami County Extension service. Her first loves were teaching food preservation, sewing, and quilting and working with the many 4-Hers in Miami County. In 1985, Nada continued her career with Kansas State Research and Extension as Family and Consumer Science Specialist for Johnson County. As a master organizer, Nada, along with her colleagues, spearheaded the Master Foods Program in Kansas. She retired in 2004, but continued to be an avid supporter of K-State Research and Extension and was uplifted by the many professional friends she made throughout her career. She continued to teach, into retirement, as a spokesperson for the Kansas Wheat Commission and class leader and 2011 president for the Miami County Quilters Guild (MCQG). Nada married Leslie Elwood Thoden on July 15, 1967 at First Lutheran Church, Paola KS. They raised three children and together, enjoyed gardening and its aftermath, spending time with friends and family, and supporting the communities they lived in. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Paola, KS and King of Kings Lutheran Church, Gardner, KS. Quilting was Nada"s passion. She was a member of the MCQG and the "Wednesday Quilter"s". She loved being a member of the Lutheran Women"s Missionary League, especially enjoying organizing events and working on missionary quilts with "her Tuesday girls". Nada was also a member of Shamrock Study Club in Paola, KS and Epsilon Sigma Phi Honorary Extension Fraternity. In addition to her family, Nada"s was proudest of her accomplishments as 1996 president of the Kansas Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. She was awarded the 1990 NAEHE Distinguished Service Award and the 1998 National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Continued Excellence Award. She was recipient of the 2001 K-State Extension Outstanding Faculty Mentor and K-State Extension Team Awards. Nada was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Gordon Fell, all of Greeley, Colorado. She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Leslie Thoden of Paola; three children, Heidi Thoden (Wes DeRosier) of Tahlequah, OK, Brandi Thoden Winkler (Scott) of Paola, KS, Alvin Thoden of Overland Park, KS; her sister Carmen VanPelt (Dwaine) of Archer, NE and brother George Louis Fell III (Marcia) of Eaton, CO, and many nieces, nephews and friends. Memorial contributions may be sent to King of Kings Lutheran Church, 306 East Madison, Gardner, KS, Trinity Lutheran Church, 34868 Block Road, Paola, KS, or an organization of the giver"s choice. To leave a special memory or Nada or to leave condolences for the family of Nada please go to the share memory tab. Trinity Lutheran Church Service: Monday, August 11, 2014 at 10:30 AM Visitation: Monday, August 11, 2014 from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM