The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-01-24
ESTEEMED WOl}AN
DIES SUDDENLY
CITY SADDENED BY THE PASSING
OF A WOMAN CITIZEN WHO
WAS DEAR TO ALL
PROMINENT IN THE WORK Of REDCROSS
College Athlete Passes Away After An
illness That Started at
Holidays

Holidays
The people of Bookings were deeply
shocked last Sunday morning TO learn
of the very sudden death of Mrs. NJ. e.
Wimsey. The evening before she had
been much better from a cold with
which she had been suffering and had
planned to go out to dinner Sunday
Her brother, +. O. Smith, called at her
apartments about half after nine in
the morning and when he could not
get a response to his rapS on the door,
went up the outside stairs at the rear
of the house and opening the bath
room window crawled in and found
her in the bath tub still in death. Her
physician was immediatly called and
found that she had died the night be
fore while engaged in her bath, and
that her going was quiet and peace
full, no shadow Of pain on her face or
indication of suffering in the DISPOSE
ton of the body. From the knowledge
of her heart condition it was evident
that a sudden stroke of ~appoplexy
had taken her instantly. Loving friends
were quickly in attendance and with
the aid Of the undertaken she vas pre-
pared for burial. The funeral service
was held at her home on Monday and
the body. accompanied by Mr.. and Mrs.
w. L. Purdy, was taken to Lacrosse.
Wis, for interment.
Martha Eva Smith was born in La
Crosse, Wis, october q, 1857, and
was educated in the public schools of
the city. In May, 1879 she was united
in marriage to NJ. T, Wimsey, who
died while with her on a visit to Sioux
Falls, November 10. 1911. In 1898 Mr..
and Mrs. Wimsey moved to Brookings
where for ten years Mr.. Wimsey had
been a partner in the firm of c. CT.
Leyse & Co. Mrs. Wimscy was a
woman who took pleasure and a prom
inent part in every work of value to
the community that called for the exer-
else Of energy n the giving of time
and work. She was one of the chart
er members of St. Paul's Episcopal
church. She took part in every charity,
she gave freely of her time and money
to all movements where women could
do things for their %neighbors. She
was a good business woman and after
the death of her husband gave atten-
ton to the management Of her prop
erty interests. When the Red Cross
chapter was organized she early be-
came one of the hardest workers in
that labor Of love, and has had charge
of all of the knitting. her passing will
leave a place there which will be hard
to fill.
Without children herself, she was
a lover of them and the families where
she was the most intimate always had
little ones on whom she could lavish
her affection. To her friends she was
a constant source of strength, giving
to them her best help in times Of need
and sympathy in times of sorrow.
Many hearts in B~rookings, il Chicago,
and other places were made sad in
deed by the news of her death. she
was a friend whom to know was to
love and her name will not be forgot
ten in Bookings in many a long day.
Two brothers are left to mourn her
going. Forrest J. Smith, Of Lacrosse,
and Frank O. Smith, of this city. They
have the deepest sympathy of all the
community. and we sorrow with them,
for the reason that Martha +. Win
sey had by her sympathy, her help
and her energy made herself a part
of the good life of the city. She be-
longed to Bookings and her friends,
as well as 10 her own kin, and we who
knew her so intimately and met her
daily. feel that her passing brings to
each one of us a sorrow that is per-
sonal and also that is az u own.
She was a good woman she did good in
the world and her name will be held
in loving esteem for ears to come.
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