Lela Thomas was born May 18, 1912, to John C. and Florence (Mumby) Shanks in Parker, S.D., the second of their four daughters. The others were Una, born 1908; Margaret, born 1914; and Ruth, born 1919.
In 1917, the family moved to Pierre, S.D., when John Shanks was appointed the first State Sheriff. Lela lived in Pierre almost all the rest of her life. She graduated from Pierre High School in 1929 and attended Yankton College for two years, leaving school, like many others at the time, because of the Depression.
She began playing the piano at First Congregational Church in Pierre when she was 15. While at Yankton College, she continued her study of the piano. She also learned to play the pipe organ and that had a lot to do with the rest of her life. She played the organ regularly at the church until 1989 and part-time thereafter before quitting entirely in 1996. She was the primary organist of the church for nearly 60 years and provided music to the congregation both full and part-time and as pianist and organist for nearly 70 years. She also participated in the Pierre Monday Musical for years and was a member of the Pierre Concert board and served as membership chairman for three years.
On Jan. 14, 1935, she married Herb Thomas, and they had two children: John, born May 9, 1942, and William, born July 21, 1945. They divorced in 1947, and Herb died May 18, 1970.
She began working for the Paul Noren Insurance Agency in 1947, and continued there after the business was purchased by Dave Johnson. She continued to work for the agency until 1974. She then worked at the state headquarters office of the South Dakota Republican Party until 1981, when she completely retired.
Somewhere in "middle age" she took up golf and became an avid player and member of the Women's Golf Association. Candor requires the acknowledge-ment that she was a better organist than golfer, but she did both with intensity and enjoyment into her 80s.
For her 80th birthday, Bill and Julie took her on a trip to Scotland, the original home of both golf and her family. She was treated to a "proper tea" at Gleneagles, one of Scotland's finest golf courses, and she had a luncheon at the home of the game, the Old Course at St. Andrews.
In 2003, Lela moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where her son, William, resides. She lived at Bickford Cottage and then Keystone Cedars Assisted Living, and finally at Mercy Medical Center's skilled nursing facility, Hallmar, where she resided at the time of her death, Jan. 8, 2014. The family thanks all three for the excellent care they gave her.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her three sisters; and her older son, John.
She is survived by her son, William, and his wife, Dr. Julianne H. Thomas, (also originally from Pierre.)
Visitation will be at First Congregational United Church of Christ at 123 North Highland in Pierre, S.D., from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14. Funeral Services will begin at 11 a.m., with Pastor Susan Carr officiating. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Pierre following a luncheon at the church. Any memorial contributions should be directed to the organ fund at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Pierre.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home of Cedar Rapids and Feigum Funeral Home of Pierre, S.D. Condolences may be conveyed to the family at www.feigumfh.com.
[Thanks to contributor #47110799 for the parent links, middle name, and plot information.]
In 1917, the family moved to Pierre, S.D., when John Shanks was appointed the first State Sheriff. Lela lived in Pierre almost all the rest of her life. She graduated from Pierre High School in 1929 and attended Yankton College for two years, leaving school, like many others at the time, because of the Depression.
She began playing the piano at First Congregational Church in Pierre when she was 15. While at Yankton College, she continued her study of the piano. She also learned to play the pipe organ and that had a lot to do with the rest of her life. She played the organ regularly at the church until 1989 and part-time thereafter before quitting entirely in 1996. She was the primary organist of the church for nearly 60 years and provided music to the congregation both full and part-time and as pianist and organist for nearly 70 years. She also participated in the Pierre Monday Musical for years and was a member of the Pierre Concert board and served as membership chairman for three years.
On Jan. 14, 1935, she married Herb Thomas, and they had two children: John, born May 9, 1942, and William, born July 21, 1945. They divorced in 1947, and Herb died May 18, 1970.
She began working for the Paul Noren Insurance Agency in 1947, and continued there after the business was purchased by Dave Johnson. She continued to work for the agency until 1974. She then worked at the state headquarters office of the South Dakota Republican Party until 1981, when she completely retired.
Somewhere in "middle age" she took up golf and became an avid player and member of the Women's Golf Association. Candor requires the acknowledge-ment that she was a better organist than golfer, but she did both with intensity and enjoyment into her 80s.
For her 80th birthday, Bill and Julie took her on a trip to Scotland, the original home of both golf and her family. She was treated to a "proper tea" at Gleneagles, one of Scotland's finest golf courses, and she had a luncheon at the home of the game, the Old Course at St. Andrews.
In 2003, Lela moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where her son, William, resides. She lived at Bickford Cottage and then Keystone Cedars Assisted Living, and finally at Mercy Medical Center's skilled nursing facility, Hallmar, where she resided at the time of her death, Jan. 8, 2014. The family thanks all three for the excellent care they gave her.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her three sisters; and her older son, John.
She is survived by her son, William, and his wife, Dr. Julianne H. Thomas, (also originally from Pierre.)
Visitation will be at First Congregational United Church of Christ at 123 North Highland in Pierre, S.D., from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14. Funeral Services will begin at 11 a.m., with Pastor Susan Carr officiating. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Pierre following a luncheon at the church. Any memorial contributions should be directed to the organ fund at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Pierre.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home of Cedar Rapids and Feigum Funeral Home of Pierre, S.D. Condolences may be conveyed to the family at www.feigumfh.com.
[Thanks to contributor #47110799 for the parent links, middle name, and plot information.]
Lela Thomas was born May 18, 1912, to John C. and Florence (Mumby) Shanks in Parker, S.D., the second of their four daughters. The others were Una, born 1908; Margaret, born 1914; and Ruth, born 1919.
In 1917, the family moved to Pierre, S.D., when John Shanks was appointed the first State Sheriff. Lela lived in Pierre almost all the rest of her life. She graduated from Pierre High School in 1929 and attended Yankton College for two years, leaving school, like many others at the time, because of the Depression.
She began playing the piano at First Congregational Church in Pierre when she was 15. While at Yankton College, she continued her study of the piano. She also learned to play the pipe organ and that had a lot to do with the rest of her life. She played the organ regularly at the church until 1989 and part-time thereafter before quitting entirely in 1996. She was the primary organist of the church for nearly 60 years and provided music to the congregation both full and part-time and as pianist and organist for nearly 70 years. She also participated in the Pierre Monday Musical for years and was a member of the Pierre Concert board and served as membership chairman for three years.
On Jan. 14, 1935, she married Herb Thomas, and they had two children: John, born May 9, 1942, and William, born July 21, 1945. They divorced in 1947, and Herb died May 18, 1970.
She began working for the Paul Noren Insurance Agency in 1947, and continued there after the business was purchased by Dave Johnson. She continued to work for the agency until 1974. She then worked at the state headquarters office of the South Dakota Republican Party until 1981, when she completely retired.
Somewhere in "middle age" she took up golf and became an avid player and member of the Women's Golf Association. Candor requires the acknowledge-ment that she was a better organist than golfer, but she did both with intensity and enjoyment into her 80s.
For her 80th birthday, Bill and Julie took her on a trip to Scotland, the original home of both golf and her family. She was treated to a "proper tea" at Gleneagles, one of Scotland's finest golf courses, and she had a luncheon at the home of the game, the Old Course at St. Andrews.
In 2003, Lela moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where her son, William, resides. She lived at Bickford Cottage and then Keystone Cedars Assisted Living, and finally at Mercy Medical Center's skilled nursing facility, Hallmar, where she resided at the time of her death, Jan. 8, 2014. The family thanks all three for the excellent care they gave her.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her three sisters; and her older son, John.
She is survived by her son, William, and his wife, Dr. Julianne H. Thomas, (also originally from Pierre.)
Visitation will be at First Congregational United Church of Christ at 123 North Highland in Pierre, S.D., from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14. Funeral Services will begin at 11 a.m., with Pastor Susan Carr officiating. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Pierre following a luncheon at the church. Any memorial contributions should be directed to the organ fund at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Pierre.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home of Cedar Rapids and Feigum Funeral Home of Pierre, S.D. Condolences may be conveyed to the family at www.feigumfh.com.
[Thanks to contributor #47110799 for the parent links, middle name, and plot information.]
In 1917, the family moved to Pierre, S.D., when John Shanks was appointed the first State Sheriff. Lela lived in Pierre almost all the rest of her life. She graduated from Pierre High School in 1929 and attended Yankton College for two years, leaving school, like many others at the time, because of the Depression.
She began playing the piano at First Congregational Church in Pierre when she was 15. While at Yankton College, she continued her study of the piano. She also learned to play the pipe organ and that had a lot to do with the rest of her life. She played the organ regularly at the church until 1989 and part-time thereafter before quitting entirely in 1996. She was the primary organist of the church for nearly 60 years and provided music to the congregation both full and part-time and as pianist and organist for nearly 70 years. She also participated in the Pierre Monday Musical for years and was a member of the Pierre Concert board and served as membership chairman for three years.
On Jan. 14, 1935, she married Herb Thomas, and they had two children: John, born May 9, 1942, and William, born July 21, 1945. They divorced in 1947, and Herb died May 18, 1970.
She began working for the Paul Noren Insurance Agency in 1947, and continued there after the business was purchased by Dave Johnson. She continued to work for the agency until 1974. She then worked at the state headquarters office of the South Dakota Republican Party until 1981, when she completely retired.
Somewhere in "middle age" she took up golf and became an avid player and member of the Women's Golf Association. Candor requires the acknowledge-ment that she was a better organist than golfer, but she did both with intensity and enjoyment into her 80s.
For her 80th birthday, Bill and Julie took her on a trip to Scotland, the original home of both golf and her family. She was treated to a "proper tea" at Gleneagles, one of Scotland's finest golf courses, and she had a luncheon at the home of the game, the Old Course at St. Andrews.
In 2003, Lela moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where her son, William, resides. She lived at Bickford Cottage and then Keystone Cedars Assisted Living, and finally at Mercy Medical Center's skilled nursing facility, Hallmar, where she resided at the time of her death, Jan. 8, 2014. The family thanks all three for the excellent care they gave her.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her three sisters; and her older son, John.
She is survived by her son, William, and his wife, Dr. Julianne H. Thomas, (also originally from Pierre.)
Visitation will be at First Congregational United Church of Christ at 123 North Highland in Pierre, S.D., from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14. Funeral Services will begin at 11 a.m., with Pastor Susan Carr officiating. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Pierre following a luncheon at the church. Any memorial contributions should be directed to the organ fund at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Pierre.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home of Cedar Rapids and Feigum Funeral Home of Pierre, S.D. Condolences may be conveyed to the family at www.feigumfh.com.
[Thanks to contributor #47110799 for the parent links, middle name, and plot information.]
Family Members
Spouse
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
