{{short description|University president, Benedictine nun}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Thomas Welder | birth_name = Diane Marie Welder | image = Sister Thomas Overlooking Missouri River (cropped).jpg | image_size = | birth_date = April 27, 1940 | death_date = June 22, 2020 (aged 80) | birth_place = Linton, North Dakota, U.S. | alma_mater = College of St. Scholastica (BA)<br>Northwestern University (MMus) | office = President of the University of Mary | term_start = 1978 | term_end = 2009 | death_place = Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S. }} '''Sister Thomas Welder''', OSB (born '''Diane Marie Welder''';<ref name="Swift 1997">{{cite news |title=Sisters Mary Ann and Thomas are Fellow Benedictines in Bismarck but They're Much Closer Than That. |url=https://library.ndsu.edu/grhc/articles/newspapers/news/nd/forum/swift.html|last=Swift|first=Tammy|work=Forum |date=September 21, 1997|page=1B|via=Germans from Russia Heritage Collection}}</ref> April 27, 1940{{spnd}}June 22, 2020) was an American educator, academic administrator, and Benedictine nun. Born and raised in North Dakota, she entered Annunciation Monastery in 1959, at age 19. She began working at the Benedictine-sponsored Mary College in 1963 and served as its president from 1978 to 2009. Under Welder, the college expanded to become the University of Mary. She received North Dakota's highest honor, the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award, in 2004.
==Early life and education== thumb|left|upright=0.8|Welder's St. Mary's Central High School photo (1958).Diane Marie Welder was born on April 27, 1940, in Linton, North Dakota, to Mary Ann (née Kuhn) and Sebastian Welder.<ref name="Jamestown Sun">{{cite news |title=University of Mary holds 50th commencement |url=https://www.jamestownsun.com/news/1759816-university-mary-holds-50th-commencement |access-date=September 18, 2019 |work=Jamestown Sun |date=May 12, 2010 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Mother obituary">{{cite news |title=Mary Ann Welder |url=https://bismarcktribune.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/mary-ann-welder/article_59f183f9-b0bb-5563-b3c9-4db3a7a3e85d.html |access-date=September 18, 2019 |work=The Bismarck Tribune |date=February 24, 2009}}</ref> Her father died of a kidney condition in 1951; her mother became a Benedictine sister in 1968, after raising Welder and her siblings.<ref name="Mother obituary"/><ref name="Swift 1997"/> Four of Welder's maternal aunts also joined religious orders.<ref name="Swift 1997"/> Welder attended Cathedral Elementary School and St. Mary's Central High School, Bismarck, North Dakota, graduating in 1958. She studied at the College of St. Benedict in Minnesota, where she discerned her vocation to religious life.<ref name="Jamestown Sun"/>
Welder returned to Bismarck to enter the community of Benedictine nuns at Annunciation Monastery.<ref name="Jamestown Sun"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Univ. of Mary president says retirement comes at right time |url=https://www.jamestownsun.com/news/1718460-univ-mary-president-says-retirement-comes-right-time |access-date=June 23, 2020 |work=Jamestown Sun |agency=Associated Press |date=May 14, 2008 |language=en}}</ref> The Benedictines founded Mary College in 1959; Welder was a member of their first freshman class.<ref name="Swift 1997"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Welder puts U-Mary on the map |url=https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/2073906-their-opinion-welder-puts-u-mary-map |access-date=September 18, 2019 |work=Grand Forks Herald |language=en}}</ref> She was given the religious name "Sister Thomas" when she entered the novitiate.<ref name="Obituary">{{cite web |title=Obituary for Sister Thomas Welder at Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Service |url=https://www.eastgatefuneral.com/obituary/sister-thomas-welder |website=www.eastgatefuneral.com |access-date=June 23, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> She made a religious profession in 1961 and a perpetual monastic profession in 1964.<ref name="Obituary"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Religion digest 6-4: Five Sisters celebrate 50 year jubilees |url=https://bismarcktribune.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/religion/religion-digest/article_553403f8-8d47-11e0-b1c8-001cc4c03286.html |access-date=September 18, 2019 |work=The Bismarck Tribune |date=June 3, 2011}}</ref> She completed a bachelor's degree at the College of St. Scholastica in 1963<ref name="Jamestown Sun"/> and received a master's degree in music from Northwestern University in 1968.<ref name="Jamestown Sun"/><ref name="ND Governor">{{cite web |title=Sister Thomas Welder |url=https://www.governor.nd.gov/theodore-roosevelt-rough-rider-award/sister-thomas-welder |website=North Dakota Office of the Governor |access-date=September 18, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
==Career== thumb|upright=0.8|Welder on her first day as president of the University of Mary in 1978.Welder began working for Mary College in 1963.<ref name="retirement"/> She taught music and chaired the humanities department.<ref name="Herzog 2009">{{cite news |last1=Herzog |first1=Karen |title=Sister Thomas leaves a growing legacy |url=https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/sister-thomas-leaves-a-growing-legacy/article_d48459f4-d7ca-5e1e-a166-f511d1868346.html |access-date=September 18, 2019 |work=The Bismarck Tribune |date=April 17, 2009}}</ref> In 1978 she was named the school's fifth president.<ref name="retirement">{{cite news |title=Sister Thomas Welder to retire |url=https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/sister-thomas-welder-to-retire/article_77fe7cdb-8ae4-5e5c-8283-eb06b524506b.html |access-date=September 18, 2019 |work=The Bismarck Tribune |agency=Associated Press |date=May 6, 2008 |language=en}}</ref> The college attained university status in 1986, becoming the University of Mary,<ref name="ND Governor"/> and the enrollment increased from 925 students to nearly 3,000.<ref name="chamber connection">{{cite magazine|title=Current and former University of Mary presidents earn highest honor|magazine=Chamber Connection|publisher=Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce|date=July 2015|page=23|url=https://issuu.com/bismarckmandanchamberconnection/docs/07chamberconnection}}</ref> As president, Welder was known for her ability to remember names and faces.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kalberer |first1=Lauren |title=Women's History Month – Sister Thomas Welder |url=https://www.kxnet.com/news/womens-history-month-sister-thomas-welder/ |access-date=September 18, 2019 |work=KX NEWS |date=March 12, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Suleiman 2020">{{cite news |last1=Suleiman |first1=Bilal |title=Former longtime University of Mary President Sister Thomas Welder dies; remembered for leadership, kindness |url=https://bismarcktribune.com/business/former-longtime-university-of-mary-president-sister-thomas-welder-dies-remembered-for-leadership-kindness/article_3f6517db-22ae-5d02-a2d1-e229e8aee1b8.html |access-date=June 23, 2020 |work=The Bismarck Tribune |date=June 22, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> She emphasized teaching servant leadership and Benedictine values.<ref name="Herzog 2009"/> In 2004, she was granted the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award, the highest honor of the state of North Dakota.<ref name="retirement"/><ref name="ND Governor"/> Her portrait is displayed in the North Dakota State Capitol.<ref name="kfyrtv">{{cite news|date=June 22, 2020|title=Sister Thomas Welder passes away|work=www.kfyrtv.com|url=https://www.kfyrtv.com/content/news/Sister-Thomas-Welder-passes-away-571421371.html|access-date=June 22, 2020}}</ref> In 2009, she retired and was named President Emerita.<ref name="Herzog 2009"/><ref name="university profile">{{cite web |title=About Sister Thomas |url=https://www.umary.edu/academics/library/sister-thomas-welder.php |website=University of Mary |access-date=September 18, 2019}}</ref>
==Death== Welder had polycystic kidney disease; she received two transplants, in 2001 and in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Herzog |first1=Karen |title=Situation 'a real call to trust' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/347562155/ |access-date=June 25, 2020 |work=The Bismarck Tribune |date=July 2, 2005 |page=13}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Eckroth |first1=Leann |title=Sister Thomas Welder gets kidney transplant |url=https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/sister-thomas-welder-gets-kidney-transplant/article_1c75f99c-5ef1-11e0-8dab-001cc4c03286.html |access-date=September 18, 2019 |work=The Bismarck Tribune |date=April 4, 2011}}</ref> She died in Bismarck, North Dakota, on June 22, 2020,<ref>{{cite web |title=Iconic Servant Leader, Educator and University President Emerita, Sister Thomas Welder has Died |url=https://news.umary.edu/iconic-servant-leader-educator-and-university-president-emerita-sister-thomas-welder-has-died/ |website=News Room - University of Mary |access-date=25 June 2020 |date=22 June 2020}}</ref> after having been diagnosed with kidney cancer.<ref name="Suleiman 2020"/> The state governor, Doug Burgum, and the senator John Hoeven expressed their condolences.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sweeney |first1=Pat |title=Longtime U-Mary president dies |url=https://knoxradio.com/news/local/longtime-u-mary-president-dies |access-date=June 23, 2020 |work=KNOX Radio |date=June 22, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Hoeven and Senator Kevin Cramer memorialized her in floor speeches to the United States Senate on June 24.<ref>{{cite news |last1=<!--staff writer, no byline--> |title=Late Sister Thomas Welder honored in Congress |url=https://bismarcktribune.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/late-sister-thomas-welder-honored-in-congress/article_db597e62-a30c-5595-b512-3a220b32b038.html |access-date=June 25, 2020 |work=The Bismarck Tribune |date=June 24, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Monsignor James P. Shea, President of the University of Mary, celebrated Welder's funeral Mass on June 29, and her body was buried in the monastery cemetery.<ref name="Suleiman 2020b">{{cite news |last1=Suleiman |first1=Bilal |title=Sister Thomas Welder remembered as 'a true servant leader' during funeral at University of Mary |url=https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/bismarck/sister-thomas-welder-remembered-as-a-true-servant-leader-during-funeral-at-university-of-mary/article_9c3298b3-e24b-5776-bc5f-d89d5ad2d865.html |work=The Bismarck Tribune |date=29 June 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230506044002/https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/bismarck/sister-thomas-welder-remembered-as-a-true-servant-leader-during-funeral-at-university-of-mary/article_9c3298b3-e24b-5776-bc5f-d89d5ad2d865.html |archive-date=6 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
==Awards and honors== thumb|upright=1.1|Welder receives the Rough Rider Award from then-Governor John and First Lady Mikey Hoeven (2004). *Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award from the State of North Dakota – 2004<ref name="ND Governor"/> *Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame of the Norsk Høstfest – 2007 inductee<ref>{{cite web |title=SAHF Inductees: Sister Thomas Welder |url=https://hostfest.com/sahf/sahf-inductees/sister-thomas-welder/ |website=Norsk Høstfest |access-date=September 18, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> * Doctor of the University, ''honoris causa'', from the University of Mary – 2010<ref>{{cite web |title=Honorary Doctorates |url=https://www.umary.edu/about/heritage/honorary-degrees.php}}</ref> *Caritas Award from Catholic Charities – 2013<ref name="Diocese 2013">{{cite web |title=Sr. Thomas Welder to earn prestigious award |url=https://bismarckdiocese.com/news/sr-thomas-welder-to-earn-prestigious-award |website=Diocese of Bismarck|date=September 19, 2013|access-date=September 18, 2019}}</ref> * Honorary doctorate from Belmont Abbey College – 2015<ref name="chamber connection"/> * Honorary doctorate from St. Anselm College – 2017<ref>{{cite web |title= Sr. Thomas Welder receives Honorary Doctorate from St. Anselm College |url=https://news.umary.edu/university-of-mary-president-emerita-sister-thomas-welder-receives-honorary-doctorate-from-saint-anselm-college/}}</ref>
== References == <!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. --> {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Welder, Thomas}} Category:1940 births Category:2020 deaths Category:Educators from North Dakota Category:People from Bismarck, North Dakota Category:People from Emmons County, North Dakota Category:Benedictine nuns Category:American Benedictines Category:University of Mary Category:College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University alumni Category:College of St. Scholastica alumni Category:Northwestern University alumni Category:Heads of universities and colleges in the United States Category:Women heads of universities and colleges Category:20th-century American Roman Catholic nuns Category:21st-century American Roman Catholic nuns Category:American women academic administrators