United States Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940; register
tribe: Gros Ventre
degree of blood: 1/2

Marriage:
7 May 1932, Clark County Washington

Thelma DeCelles-Rumgay was the eldest of eleven children, born in 1909 to Thomas "Gus" and Nancy (Adams) DeCelles. Thelma's grandfather Matt Adams built the log cabin where she and her siblings were born, which was part of the DeCelles ranch.

Thelma attended the Chemawa Indian boarding school in Salem, Oregon. After graduating from the eighth grade she got a job as a maid for the Mayor of the city of Portland.

While living in Portland she met Wilfred (Fred) Rumgay. A man who has been described by a niece as being "Debonair." Both of his parents were from Scotland. He was a fireman for the city of Portland. It was a good job to have especially during the years of the Great Depression. They married on May 7th, 1932. To this union two daughters were born. Nancy Lou and Donna Fay Rumgay. The couple separated in about 1939. And never got back together. Fred died in 1946.

Thelma had to get a job so she put her girls in the Chemawa Indian boarding school where they could be cared for and receive an elementary education. Thelma worked for many years as an "egg handler." She lived close enough that she could walk to work. Each year she would ride the train up to Montana to visit her parents. If she wasn't able to go she still sent her girls to spend the summer with their grandparents.

When the girls were old enough they moved back home to stay until they each married. Thelma had seven grandchildren. Nancy Theresa (Terry) and Gregory K. Pomeroy, Mike E., Patti L., Jack A., Catherine Jill Clary and Matthew Scott Skutnick.

She retired in 1971 and moved back to Ft. Belknap to build a home and take care of her aged mother. She was able to care for her until her mother could no longer walk. After that there were weekly and bi-weekly visits to the Sweet Nursing Home in Chinook.

Thelma was now free to make trips to visit her grandchildren out of state and some of her siblings. After a road trip to New Mexico and Texas, she came home with a sore throat. She had a biopsy and learned it was throat cancer. She had surgery and lost her voice. Those were rough years for her but she adjusted well. She lived another five years and the cancer returned. During her last year her daughter Donna took her to live in her home in Butte so she could take care of her. She passed away on May 26th, 1988.

Thelma was a caring and loving daughter, wife, sister, mother, grandmother and aunt to her family. She is loved and missed by all who's lives she has touched. She will rest in peace, in paradise, until we meet again.