Bernice Eileen Thrall

Bernice E. Thrall, PhD., 81 of LaSalle, Colorado died on Thursday, February 14, 2008 at her home after a noble battle with Lung Cancer. She was born on October 10, 1926 in Beech Grove, Indiana to Vasco and Sarah Jane (Meal) Thrall. Bernice was the youngest of three children. She lived a very exciting and interesting life. She grew up in Indiana on the family farm from 1926 until 1944 where she also enjoyed ponies, racing, training horses, baseball, fishing, hunting and various adventures investigating and exploring and also enjoyed music and art. With her father’s guidance she learned the principles and operation of farm tractors, trucks and equipment and at one time held the helm of a Michigan ferryboat. She lived in Indianapolis, Indiana from 1944 until 1946 where she worked for various war production plants, e.g. Eli Lily Blood bank, McQuay Norris Machine parts and RCA Television and dry cell batteries. She took flying lessons for her private pilot’s license, ran a locomotive, drove a semi-truck, motorcycle, a Model – T and other motorized equipment. In 1946 she moved to Boston, Massachusetts where she attended the Wilson School of Lab & X-Ray Tech. While there she enjoyed Thoroughbred horse racing and worked at T.B. Farms and explored the N.E. Coast. She moved back to Indiana and worked as a Lab & X-Ray Tech. She also lived in Virginia and Washington D.C.. where she was stationed at the Pentagon for 2 years during the Korean War while she served in the Women’s Army Corp. After her discharge from the WAC she attended Purdue University where she was the first woman to earn a B.S. degree in Ag Science. She was only the second woman to earn a Master of Science degree through the Animal Nutrition program at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colorado and she later went on to be the first woman to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Animal Science and Nutrition from CSU. During much of her working life she worked in animal nutrition laboratories and she worked for Carnation Pet Food Nutrition Laboratories in Van Nuys, California from 1969 – 1976. During that time she also explored much of the West Coast from Mexico to Alaska. In 1977 she and general partner, Judy Noel of Greeley, established Reinbow Thoroughbred Ranch, Ltd. in Calhan, Colorado. There they raised and trained Thoroughbred horses on a half mile oval training track which they designed and built. Bea was instrumental in the development of the first Horse Heart Rate monitor to be used in race training. It was one of the prototypes of monitors used today by many track athletes.. Bea also was the developer and patent holder of several horse health care products which resulted from her devotion to animals and their well being. In 1988 she moved to Judy Noel’s farm where she helped maintain farm equipment and farm and care for the Thoroughbreds. In the early 1990’s, Bea began playing softball with the Greeley Senior Softball program. The teams she played with were fortunate to compete not only locally but attended the National Senior games throughout the United States. She was still looking forward to next season! During most of her life she enjoyed science, sports, friends, horses, dogs, music and art and these things were of interest to her until her final days. She is survived by many special friends who will miss her greatly. She is preceded in death by her parents and twin sisters, Lois & Joy Thrall. Bernice’s wishes were to be cremated and have no services at this time. A Wake service will be held in the spring and at that time her remains will be scattered at the Reinbow Thoroughbred Ranch.

Tributes

Bernice Eileen Thrall

October 10, 1926 - February 14, 2008