Alice D. Dempster, 101, of Brookings, died Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, at The Neighborhoods at Brookview.
Memorial services are at 10 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church in Brookings with burial to follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation is one hour prior to the memorial service. Eidsness Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Alice was born July 22, 1916, to Cyrus J. and Mary Louise (Upton) Dickson in Scotland.
She grew up in Scotland, where she was one of six children. Alice graduated from Scotland High School and attended Yankton College for one year.
She later transferred to Southern Normal in Springfield, where she graduated with an associate degree in education.
On Dec. 20, 1937, Alice married Allan L. Dempster. The couple made their home in Brookings.
Alice began her career teaching in Carthage and Volga for a total of four years. She then became a librarian at SDSU, where she worked for 23 years.
After her retirement, Alice volunteered at the Brookings High School Library.
Alice was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Brookings. She was also a member of the Order of The Eastern Star, where she served as an officer.
Alice was extremely proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved spending time with them. She also enjoyed reading, flower gardening, and spending the winter months in Arizona after she and Allen retired.
Survivors include her children; Judy Gaspar of Iowa, Tom (Roberta) of Alabama, Dickson of Washington, David (Jean) of Oregon, and Eugene (Cindy) of Georgia; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a dear nephew, Ivan Palmer of Brookings; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband; son-in-law, Tom Gaspar; siblings, James, Robert, Emma Kundel, Julia Kasperson, and Lois Wells; and a dear niece, Susan Hardin Palmer.
Memorials are preferred to the First Presbyterian Church.
