Elizabeth Thomsen Chalmers' Obituary
Elizabeth was born October 11, 1939 in Council Bluffs, IA to parents Jacob P. and Helen (Brown) Thomsen.
She graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1957, and from Drake University College of Pharmacy in 1961. She moved to Dallas, TX to begin her career in hospital pharmacy. She practiced pharmacy at St. Paul Hospital, Methodist Hospital, Scottish Rite Hospital, and Baylor University Medical Center. She met her husband of 55 years, George, at First Presbyterian Church of Dallas.
She is survived by her husband George Chalmers of Dallas, her daughter Helen Chalmers of Dallas, her siblings Ann Stuhr of Council Bluffs, IA, Mary Thomsen of Omaha, NE, Virginia Devlaminck (Ghislain) of Eagan, MN, David Thomsen (Gay) of Tijeras, NM, Robert Thomsen (Michelle) of Johnsburg, IL, her nieces and nephew Margaret McClenny (Christopher) of Omaha, NE, Katherine Krisch (Dan) of Minneapolis, MN, Peter Devlaminck of Bloomington, MN, and Claire Rose (Chris) of Sandia Park, NM, and great-nieces, great nephews, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, and brother-in-law Paul Stuhr.
Liz was known for “doing the hard thing.” She chose pharmacy at a time when women were a definite minority in the profession, and was one of only nine women in a class of 50 in the pharmacy program at that time. She was an avid reader, a meticulous seamstress, and a practical cook. She was dedicated to her church, attending regularly, participating in and leading women’s Bible Study, and serving as a greeter in the nursery.
She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1979. It was a challenge she accepted with grace, and she found ways to be productive, efficient, and as highly functional as possible. She continued to work as a pharmacist until retirement. It is a legend rather than a myth that every job she left had to hire two full-time people to replace her allegedly part-time position.
Her turn of phrase, her observations on daily life, and her recollections of times past were often presented in witty and humorous ways, both verbal and written.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National M.S. Society or a charity of your choice.
Services will be held Thursday, September 7, 2023 at Restland in the Restland Memorial Chapel, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243. Visitation will be at 1pm; Service will be at 2pm
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