TOMPKINS, Viola B. (1891-1985)

TOMPKINS, BURNHAM, BENNINGTON

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 7/6/2013 at 12:46:31

Mrs. Viola B. Tompkins, the daughter of Charles H. and Ida B. (Bennington) Burnham was born May 19, 1891 on a farm in Woodford County in Illinois. She received her elementary education in Washburn, Illinois and graduated from high school at Ruthven, Iowa. After obtaining her ”normal school” teaching certificate she taught school at Ruthven and Estherville. After attending the “Dakota Business College” in Fargo, North Dakota she worked for Thomas A. Cooper, who was Administrator of North Dakota Agricultural College.

December 29, 1917 she was married to Purd Tompkins at Lake Park, Minnesota. They farmed in Ellington Township in Hancock County for five years and then in Concord Township until 1953 when they retired and moved into Garner.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church, U.M.W., Grandmother’s Club, the Garner Garden Club and was also a fifty year member of Relief Chapter #391, Order of Eastern Star in Garner.

She is survived by two sons, Claire and his wife, Bettylou, of Garner and Dean and his wife Betty, of Garner; 6 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; 2 sisters-in-law, Mrs. Marguerite Burnham of Anderson, California and Mrs. Margaret Burnham of Redding, California.

Sne was preceded in death by her husband, Purd, June 30, 1970; her daughter, Viola Ruth Tompkins, who died at the age of 16, in August of 1935; her parents; and 2 brothers, James Burnham and Dwight Burnham.

NOTE – Mrs. Tompkins died March 3, 1985 and was interred in Concord Township Cemetery, Garner, Iowa.