NEWTON — Thelma M. Hurst, 80, died October 30, 2011 at Newton Medical Center. 
She was born October 16, 1931 in Ellsworth, the daughter of John and Mildred (Mills) Ploutz.
On October 16, 1969, she married Eugene Hurst in Great Bend. He preceded her in death on July 21, 2006. 
Thelma was a member of the former Peace Lutheran Church in Newton.  She worked as a homemaker and waitress for the former Coffee Pot Restaurant in Newton. Thelma enjoyed following the St. Louis Cardinals and Denver Broncos. She enjoyed dancing in her younger years. Her family was very important to her, and she greatly looked forward to spending time with her loving family, especially her grandchildren.
Survivors include two sons, John F. Crotts, Great Bend; and Craig and Tricia Hurst; Wichita;; six daughters, Virginia Hartley, Orange, Texas; Linda and Joe Jacobi, Tyler, Texas; Janet and Dave Blackburn, Manhattan; Debbie Wheat and Pete Reyes, Sandia Park, N.M.; Sonya and Reuben Gomez. Ridgecrest, Calif.; and Charlene and Larry Siemens, Newton; a sister, Elsie Pickrill, Great Bend;  21 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
She wass preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers;  John, Harold, and Howard Ploutz; a sister Viola Nily; and a grandson, Darin Blackburn.
A funeral service is scheduled at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 4 at Petersen Funeral Home Chapelm, Newton. Visitation is scheduled from 1 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3 with the family receiving friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Petersen Funeral Home. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Newton.
Memorials are suggested to the Susan G. Komen Foundation or the American Diabetes Association in care of Petersen Funeral Home.