DeLila Tompkins, 90, of Redfield, SD and formerly of Highmore, SD, died Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield. Her funeral will be Saturday, October 27, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Highmore. Burial will be in the Highmore Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 1-8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield. There will also be visitation one hour before the service in Highmore. In lieu of flowers, DeLila's family would prefer memorials directed to the library of your choice or the Eastern Star Chapel fund in Redfield. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

DeLila Anna May Speirs was born February 3, 1917 on a farm near Virgil, SD to Ralph and Edith (Leadbetter) Speirs. She was baptized and joined the Congregational Church in Ree Heights. She attended country schools in Wolsey, St. Lawrence and Ree Heights before graduating from Ree Heights in 1934. DeLila attended Northern Normal College in Aberdeen from 1935-1936. She taught country schools in Hand County for four years.

DeLila married Elden Tompkins on June 9, 1940 at her parent's home in Miller. They lived on the Tompkins farm south of Highmore all their married life. They raised two daughters Linda Sunding and Wanda Haugen.

DeLila worked in the Congregational Church for many years and then the Lutheran Church. She taught Sunday school for many years and did extensive work with the Extension Clubs in Hyde County. Both DeLila and Elden worked with the 4-H youth of Hyde County for many years.

DeLila was honored as Eminent Homemaker and Librarian Board Member. She enjoyed quilting, sewing and crocheting.

She moved to an apartment in Huron in 1987 where she resided for fourteen years before moving to Sunset Assisted Living Center in Redfield.

DeLila is survived by her daughters: Linda (Bruce) Sunding of Hermosa, SD and Wanda (Chuck) Haugen of Redfield; six grandchildren: Debbie Sunding, Dixie Hall, Melanie Klock, Natalie Goss, Barb Haugen and Carrie McCloskey; eight great grandchildren: Heather St. Germaine, Bailey Hall, Allyson Klock, Brady Klock, Bradley Goss, Brett Goss, Kathryn Goss and Katrina McCloskey and three great-great grandchildren: Alec, Mariah and Adrien St. Germain. She is also survived by two brothers: Willis (Audrey) Speirs of Florida and Keith Speirs of Miller, SD; and four sisters: Harriet Kopplin of Miller, Mary Alice Downing of Miller, Dorothy (Leonard) Fawcett of Ree Heights and Blanche McClellan of Marionville, PA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Elden in 1984, four brothers: Waldo, Leonard, Kenneth and Glen and one sister Florence.