[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 118 (Friday, June 26, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E580]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF THYRA STEVENSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUSS FULCHER

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 26, 2020

  Mr. FULCHER. Madam Speaker, prior to serving in Congress, I served in 
the Idaho Legislature with a beloved individual. This special person, 
who passed recently, was an aircraft commander, an instructor, a 
Captain, a teacher, a linguist, and a mother to five children and 
twelve grandchildren in her life of 75 years. Joyfully, Thyra Stevenson 
of Lewiston, Idaho, lived to the fullest in her life of adventure but 
sadly, she died suddenly last month. As a precursor to her success, 
Thyra was the Valedictorian of Lewiston High School, a doctorate of 
Latin American Literature, having studied in Madrid, Spain, and at the 
University of Washington in Seattle. Additionally, she was a musician 
playing the oboe, cello, piano, and the bagpipes. Amid her career, 
Thyra served our country as an amazing pilot and worked as an officer 
in the United States Coast Guard. Thrya flew large transport jet 
airplanes including the McDonnel-Douglas DC-9, the Boeing 727, the 
Boeing 737, and the Boeing 757. After her time as a pilot, Thyra went 
on to serve in the Idaho House of Representatives for three terms. 
While in the State Legislature, Thrya's passion for education shined 
through, and she took a keen interest in ensuring the success of our 
local dairymen, farmers, and ranchers. In 2018, Thyra, in the self-
described ultimate show of her life, purchased a 2019 F-350 Platinum. 
It is said that parking for such a large truck was limited around the 
Idaho State Capitol, but, today, our hearts are joined by family, 
friends, and colleagues in celebrating the ``full-throttle'' life she 
led. Thyra, a woman of her time, and a woman beyond her time will be 
sorely missed. I believe lhe embodiment of this message is a small 
tribute to the large life she lived. I pray for her family and those 
impacted by the sudden loss of loved ones during this difficult time. 
The Congressional Record is the permanent archive of the American 
people, and I am thankful to include the life of Thyra Stevenson of 
Lewiston, Idaho. May God bless our great country and wonderful people 
like Thyra that grace this world with their lives

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