Sue Thelen grew up on a ranch in the Black  HIlls of South Dakota and attended South Dakota State University from 1969 to 1972 majoring in art.  She represented South Dakota in the 1969 Miss American Teenager Pageant in New York city, where she was one of eight finalists.  Sue was also Miss South Dakota 1971 and competed in the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, where her 6 foot x 8 foot oil painting of an eagle was her dramatic talent presentation.  She has been married to her husband Tom since 1972 and has 3 children, 12 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild.

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Sue has always had a love and appreciation for nature, which is the subject for most of her artwork.  She uses pastels, colored pencil, oils, and acrylics to produce landscapes and wildlife paintings.  See additional work by her at www. suethelen.com