Funeral services for Glenda L. Thompson, 98, of Chamberlain will be 11:00 am Monday, April 23, 2018 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Chamberlain.  Visitation will be Sunday at the Zion Lutheran Church in Chamberlain beginning at 5:00 pm with a prayer service at 7:00 pm.

Glenda Lois Thompson passed away on April 14, 2018 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 98 years.

Glenda Lois Senska was born April 20, 1919 in her aunt's home at Letcher, South Dakota to Glen and Lura (Walrath) Senska.  She attended grade school at the Milwaukee School in Sanborn County and graduated from Forestburg High School in 1938.  After high school, she attended Madison Normal School where she received her Teacher's Certificate.  She then began her 19-year teaching career and taught in country schools in Sanborn County, Jerauld County, and Miner County.  She taught second grade her last two years in Kimball, Brule County, South Dakota.  During her teaching career, she would return each summer to her parents' home.

On June 29, 1958, Glenda was united in marriage to Avery Owen Thompson at Artesian, South Dakota. They made their home in Chamberlain where they raised their family.

Glenda was a member of the Woonsocket Lutheran Church in Woonsocket and  became a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Chamberlain after she and Avery were married.  She was also a part of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) and an honorary member in her later years.  She was a member of the Pollyanna and Hi-Five clubs.

Glenda and Avery spent their winters for eight years in Zapata, Texas.  They lived in a campground/permanent residence area where they enjoyed the friendships of many people.

In her later years, Glenda enjoyed going to the Senior Citizens Center in Chamberlain and then to the Regency Retirement Assisted Living to play bingo and visit with her friends.  She also enjoyed playing dominoes with her friends on Sunday afternoons in years past.  She was independent and drove her own car until this last fall when the weather became inclement and made it unsafe for her to be out and about.

Glenda enjoyed doing embroidery work.  She learned to embroider as a child and found great pleasure in this throughout her life.  Her work was very precise and beautiful.  She loved caring for her flowers and plants both indoors and out over the years.  She was lovingly known by her friends as the "African Violet Lady".  At the time of her death, she only had a few African Violets but had numerous ones for many years as her mother had had for years in the past.

Grateful for sharing her life are her children Sheila Thompson of Chamberlain, South Dakota, David Thompson and wife Linda of Chamberlain, South Dakota, Norma DuVall and husband Harry of Casper, Wyoming, and two step grandchildren Brian and Kevin Wingert.

She was preceded in death by her husband Avery, her parents Glen and Lura Senska, and her brothers Millard, Ed, Dean, Eldon, Boyd, Lynn, Donald, and baby Senska.