Lealma T. Thompson

LeAlma T. Thompson, 84, Hartley, Iowa, formerly of Willow Lake, SD, died Sunday, July 25, 2010, at Community Memorial Health Center, Hartley, IA. Services are set for 2:00 PM, Thursday, July 29, 2010, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Vienna, SD, with Reverend Dave Larson officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Lutheran Cemetery, rural Vienna, SD. Visitation is 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Wednesday, July 28, 2010, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Vienna. Arrangements by Osthus Funeral Home, De Smet. LeAlma T. Thompson was born January 27, 1926, to Steve and Engel (Meester) Balogh at Willow Lake, SD. She was baptized at Presbyterian Church and grew up in Willow Lake, where she attended and graduated Willow Lake High School. She attended college in Madison, SD, and in Spearfish, SD, where she obtained her teaching certificate. She taught grades 1-3 in Hazel, SD, and later at Pleasant Township Country School, rural Vienna, SD. She was united in marriage to Orville Thompson on September 28, 1947, at Willow Lake, SD. The couple lived and farmed in the Willow Lake-Vienna area until 2005, when they left the farm due to increased health care needs. They lived in De Smet, near her daughter, Sharry, then in Sioux Falls, with her daughter, Pat, and finally at Community Memorial Health Care Center in Hartley, IA, near her son, Kendal. She was active in the church, Presbyterian as a youth, and Pleasant Lutheran and Bethlehem Lutheran in adulthood, as a member of the choir, singing quartet, ladies aid, quilting group, and as an organist at Pleasant Lutheran. She was also a member of American Legion Auxiliary, the Witty Wives Extension Club, and active in square dancing. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, singing, and playing the piano and organ. LeAlma cherished family gatherings, especially during holidays. Survivors include three children, Kendal (Janice) Thompson, Everly, IA; Patty (Roger) Wilkening, Sioux Falls, SD; and Sharry (Roger) Knock, De Smet, SD; eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Mary (Glenn) Green, Pierre, SD, Dorothy (Virgil) Grimm, Madison, SD; and Darlene (Steve) Buck, Findlay, OH. She was preceded in death by her husband, Orville, her parents, and one brother, Kenneth Balogh.

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