Obituary: Cleveland, Thelma Lorraine (Danielsen)
Age 82
Thelma Lorraine Danielsen Cleveland passed away December 27, 2014 at Holy Family Hospital following a long illness.
She was surrounded by her loving family and close friends.
Thelma was born in Rockford, Illinois, April 25, 1932 to Daniel and Sarah Ellen (Witsman) Danielsen.
She lived in Rockford, IL during her childhood and graduated from Harlem High School in 1950.
Her caring parents provided the opportunity for Thelma to attend the University of Illinois, Urbana and Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing, Chicago where she obtained her B.S.
in Nursing and a Nursing Diploma in 1955, respectively.
Thelma started her professional nursing career at Rockford Memorial Hospital, but soon traveled to the Pacific Northwest to obtain her Masters of Nursing from the School of Nursing at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington (1958).
She then continued her nursing career at Doctors Hospital in Seattle, WA when met the love of her life, Murry DeWayne Cleveland.
They were married on June 11, 1960 in Loves Park, IL (Rockford).
The newlyweds spent their early years together in St. Petersburg, FL where Thelma started her journey into nursing and higher education at St. Petersburg Junior College as Nursing Instructor and Practicum Coordinator.
The Pacific Northwest again called and in 1963, Thelma became the Associate Director of Nursing Services and Director of Inservice Education at University Hospital, University of Washington (UW).
During her time at University Hospital she also was a Clinical Instructor and Clinical Assistant Professor for the School of Nursing at UW.
In late 1969, due to a unique teaching opportunity for Murry, the couple moved to Colville, WA.
The following year brought the birth of their son Aaron Murry.
That was the time when Thelma began her long academic career at the Intercollegiate Center for Nursing Education (ICNE), Washington State University, Spokane, WA.
From 1970 to 1976, Thelma progressed from Assistant Professor to Associate Dean/Acting Dean and Associate Professor Thelma and Murry also moved from Colville to Diamond Lake, WA.
Since nursing higher education became her passion, the family moved to the greater Seattle area to enable Thelma time and opportunity to complete her Doctoral work in Education at the University of Washington (1981).
After completing her doctoral work, Thelma returned to the ICNE in 1980 as Assistant Dean of Continuing Education.
When the position of Dean of Nursing at ICNE opened in 1982, Thelma stepped into this leadership position and guided the Nursing School for 15 years until her retirement in 1997.
In addition to her professional career, Thelma was a member and participated in leadership roles in numerous professional nursing organizations including Washington State Board of Nursing, Washington State Nurses Association, Western Institute for Nursing, and the National Advisory Committee of the Colleagues in Caring Project for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Likewise, she was very active in a number of community service organizations including United Way of Spokane County, Dominican Network / Health Care Services Board of Directors, Providence Health Care System Board of Directors, and Rotary International (Spokane Club 21).
Throughout the years, Thelma has been recognized for her hard work on behalf of nursing higher education, community leadership including YWCA Outstanding Achievement Award in Health, Lifetime Achievement Award from the Inland Empire Nurses Association, and the Washington State Nursing Association Hall of Fame.
Her legacy to nursing education will continue through the Cleveland Visiting Scholar Program Endowment at the Intercollegiate College of Nursing (WSU) that annually introduces the Spokane healthcare community to leading scholars in the nursing profession.
Thelma is survived by her son Aaron, daughter-in-law Renee, and her grandchildren Samuel and Alexandra (Clayton, WA), and her sisters Marie Medearis (Machesney Park, IL) and Mary Ouimette (Northridge, CA).
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband of 52 years, Murry.
Thelma will be greatly missed by her family and many friends/colleagues in the community.
She was a true inspiration of leadership, kindness, and generosity.
She will live on in the hearts of all that knew her and all those who benefited from her pioneering work in nursing education for the State of Washington.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 8, 2015 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm at Heritage Funeral Home.
A Funeral Service will be held at Spokane First Church of the Nazarene, 9004 N. County Homes Blvd., on Friday, January 9, 2015 at 11:00am.
A private family Graveside Service will follow at Riverside Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to the Cleveland Visiting Scholar Program Endowment at the WSU College of Nursing (ICN), 600 N. Riverpoint Blvd., Spokane 99210.