Harriet T Koball (1927-2002) *75

Harriet "Terry" (Thomsen) Koball was born July 12, 1927, at Askov, Minnesota, to James and Rusha (Vanderhoff) Thomsen. She graduated from high school at Rake, Iowa. She married Donald Thompson in 1946. The couple moved to Casper, Wyoming in 1949, and in 1953, moved to Mankato, Minnesota. It was there that Terry began her career as a floral designer.

She moved to Sioux Falls, SD, in 1969. She continued her career as a floral designer at Young and Richards Flowers.

She was united in marriage to Kendall Koball in 1976, at Wichita, Kansas. During the 1970’s, she was the co-owner of The Flower Shop. Blending her passions of artistic creativity with serving people, her career served as a pathway to helping others.

Terry had a flair for entertaining. She would casually invite you to her home for lunch and in the course of the afternoon, pamper you like royalty, strengthen you spiritually, heal you emotionally, and bless you with a gift of some sort as you left. You would always leave her company feeling better for the experience.

Never without a project, Terry felt strongly about personally making every attempt to leave the world a better place. One of her passions was to quietly guide people through a personal and spiritual walk with Christ. She was deeply committed in helping people that were often over-looked in life. Terry had a remarkable way of seeing right into the spirit of a person. It seemed she was always doing something that would make somebody's life richer. She believed in being genuine and would quickly find good in people. This was her stepping-stone in all that she did.

A talented homemaker, Terry enjoyed sewing, making clothing and tending to her showcase flower gardens each spring. She baked and cooked everything from scratch. Lady-like and proper in all that she did, she still left time for the ironic. Terry loved fishing with Ken and their many friends in northern Canada. Almost always out-fishing the men in the group, Terry felt right at home in the elements of the outdoors.

Blessed with so many spiritual gifts, Terry spent much of her life researching angels. Speaking to groups throughout the area, she loved teaching others about our spiritual friends. She was a leader with Bible Study Fellowship and for many years was involved with Leadership Training for Steven Ministries. Terry cherished attending her church home, First Baptist Church, where she was also involved with the church diaconate. She was a member of the McKennan Hospital Auxiliary, and several years ago had instituted the Great Tables Luncheon as a fundraiser helping to benefit economically under-served people.

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Ken, Sioux Falls, SD, daughter, Ann Bryant, Lake Tahoe, CA, sons, Dan Thompson and his wife, Sue, Sioux Falls, SD, David and his wife, Kelly, Sioux Falls, SD, step-children, Keith Koball and his wife, Jane, Black Hawk, SD, Curt and his wife, Carol, Sioux Falls, Kal and his wife, Shirley, Sioux Falls, SD, Karl and his wife, Jenelle, Sioux Falls, SD, Craig, and Chris, Seattle, WA. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren, a sister, Leota Cantrell, Tule Lake, CA, brothers, James G. Thomsen and his wife, Gloria, Whipholt, MN, David Thomsen, Corinth, TX, and Doug J. Thomsen, CA.