Date : 12 May 1976
Location : St. Mary's Cemetery, Larchwood, IA
St. Joseph's Cathedral, Sioux Falls, S. D., was the scene of services this morning for Mrs. Thomas J. Whalen, 96, a former resident of Larchwood. Interment was made in St. Mary's cemetery at Larchwood. She died May 9.
Mrs. Whalen, the former Ellen McGuire, was born in 1879 near Rock Valley. In 1901 she married Thomas Whalen and the couple farmed near Rock Valley and later near Larchwood. Whalen died in 1939 and shortly thereafter she moved to Sioux Falls. She was an active worker in the Catholic church, was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America and of the Sons and Daughters of the Soddies-an association of those born in sod houses.
Prior to the funeral there was a parish scripture service at 7 p.m., a Catholic Daughters of America rosary and a Knights of Columbus rosary at a Sioux Falls funeral home on May 11.
Survivors include four daughters, Mrs Percy Keegan, Mrs Henry Klein and Mrs. Mabel Mundt, all of Sioux Falls and Mrs. Elizabeth Keegan of Santa Monica. Calif.: two sons, Cecil of Sioux Falls and Leonard of Los Angeles: 18 grandchildren: 25 greatgrandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.
Lyon County Reporter - May 12, 1976
