Thelma Bullinger, age 93 of Bottineau, passed away on Monday, April 24, 2023 at a Minot care center. Her funeral will be held on Friday, April 28, 2023 at 10:00 am at the First Lutheran Church in Bottineau. Visitation will be Thursday from 1:00 pm until 7:00 pm with a prayer service starting at 7:00 pm at the Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau. Burial will be at the Oak Creek Cemetery in Bottineau.

Thelma (Hett) Bullinger was born on December 18th, 1929 at Alexander, ND to Walter and Anona Hett. The family lived in Alexander until the age of 5. They then moved to the Hett farm west of Gardena, ND. Thelma had two brothers (Orrel and Eugene Hett) and two sisters (Lila Hett Klebe and Marilyn Hett Rudolph).

In October of 1950, she married Byron Bullinger from Gardena, ND. She and Byron moved to California in 1951 when Byron enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, and they moved back to North Dakota and the Gardena area when he was discharged in 1953. They had two sons, Gregory Byron and Jay Michael Bullinger, and being a wife and mother were they two most important things in Thelma's life.

Besides being a wonderful, caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Thelma was known for her meticulous gardens. She loved nothing better than spending her days outside in warm weather coaxing her flowers and plants to full bloom. Rarely was a weed or an uneven blade of grass found in her yard. She also loved to help others. She worked at the Good Samaritan Center for a few years during the winter months as a nurses aide, volunteered for many years at St. Andrew's Hospital, and for 21 years, she volunteered at First Lutheran Church's clothing center. Thelma also was part of the Gardena Birthday Club and the First Lutheran WELCA group.

Thelma is survived by her husband, Byron Bullinger; her son, Jay Bullinger; her daughter-in-laws, Carol Bullinger and Jackie Bullinger; her grandchildren, Krystal (Jesse) Nostdahl, Nicholas Bullinger, Zachary (Justine) Bullinger, and Rachel Bullinger; her great-grandchildren: Khaliel and Sophia Abdurrahman; Bailey, Eric and Hudson Stewart; and Jace Bullinger; brother, Eugene (Elaine) Hett; sister, Marilyn Rudolph and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her son, Gregory; her grandsons, Adam Bullinger and Anthony Bullinger; her brother, Orrel Hett; her sister, Lila Klebe; and her parents, Walter and Anona Hett.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to the St. Andrew's Hospital and the First Lutheran Church both of Bottineau.

Arrangements were with Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau. Friends may sign the online register book at www.nerofuneralhome.net .

Her service will be livestreamed on the First Lutheran Church Facebook page.