Hortense E. "Tennie" Thelen

Private funeral services will be held for Hortense Elizabeth “Tennie” (Rengel) Thelen who died October 13, 2026, at the St. Benedict Care Center in St. Cloud.

Tennie Rengel was born in St. Cloud, MN, on June 29, 1923, to Ida (Kaufman) and Martin Rengel. She attended St. Mary’s Grade School and graduated from St. Cloud Tech High School in 1941. She completed course work at the St. Cloud Business College in 1942 and went to work that year for Zapp National Bank, where she was employed until her retirement in 1980.

Tennie married Peter J. Thelen October 11, 1958, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud. Together they built the house they called home for the rest of their lives in the Colonial Gardens neighborhood of St. Cloud, on land which was once owned by her great aunt Catherine Schwarz. Tennie was a long-time member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, which was just two blocks from home and often attended funeral masses for parishioners

Tennie was an avid bowler, competing from her teen years until her 70s with teams that included her sister, Ruth Rengel. Tennie enjoyed travelling with her sister and friends before her marriage and, after retirement would often take the bus from the Whitney Senior Center to area casinos where she got a kick out of playing the nickel machines.

Tennie is survived by many nieces and nephews, including Marian Rengel and Linda Formhals who were her long-term caregivers. She was preceded in death by her infant son Edward and husband Peter Thelen; as well as her parents, and brothers and sisters Cornelius “Neil” (Billie), Mercedes Hartman (Art), Gene (Bernice), John (Rose), and Ruth; nephews Robert, Richard and Jack and niece Sandra.

Tennie will be interred in Assumption Cemetery next to her husband and infant son and near the resting places of a brother and sister.

Tennie’s family, especially nieces Marian and Linda, would like thank and are grateful for the many staff members of the St. Benedict Care Center who cared for Tennie and became her friends in the years she lived there and in the years she assisted in the care of her sister Ruth.

Memorials are preferred to the St. Benedict Care Center.