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Pearl “Mickey” Elizabeth Thiel passed away of natural causes at her home at the Rocky Mountain Manor in Powell, Wyoming, on July 14, 2020.
Pearl was born on Jan. 16, 1938 in Bearcreek, Montana. She was the seventh child of eight children born to Jesse and Alta Hoke. Her older siblings nicknamed her “Mickey” after Mickey Mouse, the most popular Disney character at that time.
Mickey grew up in the Bearcreek area and lived most of her life in Montana and Wyoming. She lived by the motto from the Great Depression, “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” Mickey enjoyed gardening and was quite skilled at hiding the abundance of zucchini in the many different dishes served to her family.
Mickey was a proud mother and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with people around the table playing board or card games. The life lessons and discussions with everyone around the game table were dear to her. In recent years, her days were planned around the Bridge Club schedules. It was a rare day if anyone managed to beat Mickey as she was such a competitive player.
Mickey was an avid reader from an early age who loved losing herself in a good book. She enjoyed reading so much, she started writing her own novels in the 1970s. Her novels were a product of her imagination that were loosely based on experience. One of her proudest accomplishments was seeing her books in print and sharing them with friends and family.
Mickey is survived by her five children: Colt Thiel, Jess (Val) Thiel, Betty Thiel, Lloyd (Tammy) Thiel and Lisa Thiel Wood; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and her longtime friend, Clara Coburn. Mickey was preceded in death by her parents and all siblings.
The family will celebrate Mickey’s life on Aug. 1, 2020 around 3 p.m. during the Hoke family reunion at the Hoke family ranch in the Bull Mountains. Friends and family are welcome to attend; please bring a lawn chair and memories of Mickey to share. The Hoke family ranch is now owned by her son Jess and is located at 519 Old Divide Road, Roundup, MT.
