Kathryn Mariella Comp Cole went to be with her loving LORD on June 22, 2010, at the age of 96 years. She was born November 6, 1913 in Delmont, SD to Lewis Park Comp and Ruby Maude Jenney Comp. She was the second of six children born to this union: Arlene, Corwin, Grace, Marie, and Perry. She grew up in Delmont, Plankington, and Presho, SD. From an early age family ties were always important to Kathryn with frequent visits to Uncle John’s and Uncle Charlie’s families. In her later years she traveled with her brothers and sister to visit family as far away as the West Coast. She traveled with her children to weddings and baptisms and other special occasions. She loved the fellowship shared wherever family gathered.

With the kindness and generosity of Harvey Billman, a Presho neighbor who loaned Kathryn money, Kathryn went to Southern State in Springfield, SD to earn her teaching certificate. She taught school in Delmont for several years while living with her Grandpa and Grandma Jenney. During inclement weather she rode by horseback to school and later drove Grandpa Jenney’s 1913 Model T Ford. She also taught in Presho and at the Junke School south of Vivian. When Grace went to school, Kathryn returned to school to earn her state teacher’s certificate. She taught for a total of 11 years including time in Winner and Gregory.

Kathryn spent one year studying at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Anyone meeting Kathryn would soon learn of her love of the LORD and her desire to share the Gospel. Kathryn taught daily Bible School in many small rural communities across the state with Elice. Kathryn loved children and was passionate about telling them about Jesus. When sitting at the piano the first song she would always play was “Jesus Loves Me” – a message she taught to three generations of children in her family.

While at Southern State College Kathryn became friends with Ellen Cole. It was during a visit home with Ellen that Kathryn met and fell in love with Ellen’s brother, Ralph. Their courtship continued during Ralph’s tour of the South Pacific during World War II. On June 9, 1946, in Presho they were united in marriage. Ralph moved a house into the same yard with his parents’ home on the Pleasant View Homestead north of Witten, SD. Kathryn lived in this home until the winter of 2007 when she moved to the Elder Inn Assisted Living in Winner, SD.

Ralph and Kathryn raised three children: Jessie (James) Elsasser, Kenneth (Becky) Cole, and Marilyn Ebert. Through sickness and health, times of bounty and lean years, Ralph and Kathryn worked from dawn to the setting of the sun caring for family.

Kathryn was a member of the Witten and Winner Baptist Churches where she served as Bible and Sunday school teacher, deaconess, and in various leadership roles of the Women’s Mission Society Circle. Kathryn led the Bible studies for the Mission Circle well into her eighties. She taught daily Bible School in many small rural communities across the state with her cousin Elice.

Kathryn loved the outdoors. She was an avid gardener. She would rise early in the morning to milk the cows, care for the chickens, and work in the garden. She spent many hot summer days in the garden cultivating a large garden, and just as many days in the kitchen canning lots and lots of green beans (Yum). Her canning provided nutritious meals for her family through the winter months. Kathryn also loved painting and quilting. Many in her family have rested under the warmth of her beautiful quilts. Kathryn loved birthdays. Her dining room cupboard always hosted a calendar meticulously marked with birthdays of her immediate and extended families. Usually she sent a birthday card but always she prayed for God’s special blessing for that person on his or her birthday.

Grateful to have shared her life are her children: Jessie (Jim) Elsasser, Witten, SD, Kenneth (Becky) Cole, Lincoln, NE, and Marilyn Ebert, Washta, IA, her grandchildren: Jeanine & Chuck Sykora; Joyce & Steve Scott; Jon & Dana Elsasser; Shanna Cole; Sara Cole; Amy Cole; Scott Cole; Jerad Ebert, Joshua & Megan Ebert; Justin & Tiffany Ebert; great-grandchildren, her brother Perry comp (Patty), her sister Marie Gregory, brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws, Frank & Eula Cole, Kathryn (Kay) Cole, Burdine Cole, nieces, nephews and a host of friends and neighbors.

She is preceded in death by her parents Ruby and L.P. Comp, her husband Ralph, sisters: Arlene Goddard; Grace McEachran, and her brother Corwin Comp.


Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 26 at the First Baptist Church in Winner, SD. Visitation will be on Friday, June 25, from 5-7 p.m. with a 7p.m. prayer service at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner.