Theone Irene (Thatcher) Fife

Theone Irene Thatcher Fife, 93, passed away peacefully at home on November 16th, 2018 after a long battle with cancer and a life well-lived. Theone had a sharp intellect until she passed. With little training and sheer determination, she became an accomplished musician, painter, architect, and seamstress. She was an avid reader and read a book a day in her later years. She took every opportunity to serve through her musical talents, including conducting and accompanying LDS performances of Handel’s Messiah. She accompanied many plays, choirs, and soloists. She also played the organ in her LDS ward until she was 92. She possessed a natural musical ability and taught herself piano at age 3 and later taught many students to play the organ. She was a champion of all her children’s and grandchildren’s pursuits and a mostly willing participant in her husband Glade’s adventures which included building their own homes, camping, and flying small aircraft. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren loved hearing stories from her childhood. Theone and Glade worked for Thatcher’s Dairy, the family business. When the dairy closed, they developed the property into the Las Colinas neighborhood. Theone designed and Glade built over 40 custom homes, mostly adobe. Born in Laramie, Wyoming, Theone lived in Utah, New Mexico, Florida, Saipan, and Johannesburg, South Africa.

She is survived by her daughter, Anne Monroe (Craig) of California; and son, Dustin Fife (Tracy) of Australia; sister, Ruth Calkins of Iowa; 24 grandchildren,and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Glade Williams Fife, whom she married nearly 75 years ago; her daughter, Holly Frietze Glidden; her parents, George and Gladys Thatcher; and her sister, Marjorie Arrowsmith. Her children and grandchildren hope to carry on her legacy by demonstrating even a portion of her intellect, determination, devotion to family, commitment to her faith, and work ethic.

The funeral service will be on Friday, November 30, 2018, at 10:00 a.m.  at the LDS Chapel, 1100 Montano, NW in Albuquerque. The internment will be at Sunset Memorial Park.

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