Theda May, 82, of Malcom, died on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, February 17, 2023, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. Interment will be at Sheridan Cemetery northeast of Grinnell.

Theda's family will receive friends at the visitation from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Thursday, February 16th at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell.

Memorials may be designated to Poweshiek County Fairgrounds, Sheridan United Methodist Church, or to the St. Francis Manor Foundation and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Theda's family online at www.smithfh.com.

Theda was born the daughter of Glenn Harold Slagle and Fern Ione (Thompson) Slagle in Newton, Iowa on August 8, 1939. She was raised near Brooklyn and graduated from Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom High School with the class of 1957.

On July 31, 1959, Theda was married to Robert William May at the Grace United Methodist Church in Brooklyn. The couple operated a grain and livestock farm near Malcom and Theda worked at Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance for 40 years.

Theda was a member of the Sheridan United Methodist Church, American Quarter Horse Association, American Paint Horse Association, Poweshiek County Fair Association, and Farm Bureau. Her enjoyments were cooking, watching Iowa Hawkeyes basketball, attending horse sales, supporting her children's school and sports activities, and visiting with friends and family.

Theda is survived by her children, Eugene May of Grinnell, Jim (Arlene) May of Malcom and Diane (Leroy) Foster of Malcom; two grandchildren, Tanner (Maddy Wanders) Foster of Malcom and Tucker Foster of Ames, IA; three step grandchildren, Ben (Monica) Rae, Alana (Tom) Sellner and Aaron (Megan) Grace; six step great grandchildren; and her siblings, Bob (Pat) Slagle of Malcom and Linda (Roger) Walz of Tama, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Robert on June 7, 2007; her brother, Bill Slagle.