Banks, Marie "Kathryn" 1918-2019

BANKS, RUSSELL, WESTOVER

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/5/2020 at 07:16:00

Marie Kathryn Banks, 100, formerly of Westfield, IA passed away peacefully on May 14, 2019 at Wel-Life Assisted Living in Elk Point, SD.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M. Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ellendale, Iowa. Rev. Bruce Lawler will officiate. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Ellendale, IA. Visitation will be from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. Thursday with the family present from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. and a vigil service at 7:00 P.M., all at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City.

Kathryn was born December 1, 1918 in rural Plymouth County; she was the daughter of Michael and Marie (Westover) Russell. She was named after her mother and not expected to survive, being a premature birth. When she thrived, her mother called her Kathryn in order to avoid confusion with their names.

When Kathryn was five, the family moved to Roswell, NM, so her father could recover from tuberculosis. She attended Catholic school there through the 6th grade. Her only sibling, James, was born there.

The family returned to rural Plymouth County to farm where Kathryn finished her schooling, graduating from high school at the age of 16. She then attended Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa. Upon earning a teaching degree, she accepted a position at a country school in Sioux Township, Iowa. It was while working in the area she met Thomas Arden Banks. They were joined in marriage from May 14, 1940 until his death on May 14, 2012.

Throughout her life, Kathryn enjoyed teaching, bowling, reading, and gardening. She supplied flowers for many occasions and also to her home church at Ellendale. She was a lifetime member there and taught catechism, made pies, and helped wherever needed.

Kathryn is survived by many nieces and nephews and a sister in law, Mary Louise Russell, of Iowa City, IA.

She was preceded in death by an infant son, Robert Arden, and her mother, father, brother and husband.

[Source: Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel; Sioux City, IA]