Christine Viola (Babe) Thelen Christine Viola Gudren Thelen, known as Babe to family and friends, passed away on October 25, 2009, in Atoka, OK at the age of 98. Christine was born on May 12, 1911, in Leal, ND, to Soren Christian Sorensen and Isabelle Hanna (Yde) Sorensen.She graduated from high school in Dazey, ND, in 1930, did a short course at college that summer, and began a teaching career, which spanned 41 years. She taught 10 years in rural, one-room schools in North Dakota before marrying Lorentz Jakob Thelen, known as Fritz, on June 20, 1940, in Walum, ND.Christine and Fritz made their home and farmed in the Houghton, SD, area. They had one son, Lorenz Thelen, Jr. After hailing out in 1947, Babe went back to teaching and pursuing her college degree during the summers. She graduated from Northern State College, Aberdeen, SD, in 1967. She taught a total of 31 years in South Dakota, many of them in rural schools, which she loved. She influenced hundreds of students with her caring but firm approach to education. After retiring from the Britton school system in 1978, she turned her love of children to her grandchildren, spending summers in Britton, but wintering near her family in the Desert Southwest, mostly in Deming, NM. She spent countless precious hours with her grandchildren and was a huge influence on their lives. She has lived the last four years with her son and daughter-in-law. Christine was preceded in death by her husband Lorenz, her brother Pete Sorensen, her sister Olive Olson, and several half-brothers and sisters. She is survived by her sister Ferne Carter of Caliente, NV, her son Lorenz Thelen of Atoka, OK, grandson Tyler Thelen of Elkhart, IN, granddaughters Tylee Yanez of Phoenix, AZ, Tonya Thelen of Dubois, ID, Terri Thelen of Castle Rock, CO, and five great-granddaughters, along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends, and students.