Thelma Doreen Canoy

Thelma Doreen (Eshelman) Canoy, age 83, of Detroit lakes, Minnesota, passed away on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at the Ecumen-Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes.  A funeral service will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness in Detroit Lakes, with a visitation an hour prior.  David Donehower is assisting the family with arrangements.  

Thelma was born on August 22, 1939, to John and Clara Eshelman in Boise, Idaho. She was the oldest of four children. She spent most of her youth life working the farm with her father. Her leisure time was working in the house and listening to the radio. In her teen years, she enjoyed driving in the Demo Derby races. She graduated 12th grade from Kuna, Idaho in 1957.

Thelma’s paternal grandparents were baptized as Jehovah’s Witnesses and at the age of 13 Thelma was blessed to be baptized with her father in the frozen Snake River. After which time she spent Pioneering until she met the love of her life, Floyd Leon Canoy. They married on January 20, 1959, in Boise, Idaho. Married life brought them many adventures in the western states and six children.

Thelma worked at Simplots for three years and then Ore-Ida for four years. She also cut and sold wood while working on their small dairy farm. In November of 1977, they moved to Milaca, Minnesota with their four youngest children. Together they lived in various locations farming throughout Minnesota, until settling down in the Detroit Lakes area where she enjoyed her retired years.

Thelma treasured her time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many friends. Thelma enjoyed being a devoted Jehovah’s Witness and spending time with the congregation. She also enjoyed reading, playing cards, doing puzzles, and watching her favorite show, Wheel of Fortune.

Thelma will be remembered as a loving, caring, and strong woman by all those who loved and knew her.

Left to cherish Thelma’s memory are her four children: Shirley (Bruce) Marks, Rod (Becky) Canoy, Linda (Dan) Canoy-Kraft, David (Lisa) Canoy, their families and the families of her deceased sons, Howard Canoy, and Dennis Canoy; and her brother, John (Desi) Eshelman.

Proceeded in death by her husband, Floyd Canoy; parents, John and Clara Eshelman; sons, Howard and Dennis Canoy, a daughter-in-law: Phylis Canoy; a son-in-law, Thomas Dillon; two siblings; Ginny Needles, and Eileen Smalley; a brother-in-law, Butch Needles; and grandson, Erik Kraft.