Alice M Mitchell

Alice M. Mitchell, age 100, died on July 29th in Amana, Iowa. Alice was born November 17th, 1915 in Estherville, Iowa to Ingeborg (Tendel) and Nels Sunde. She married Howard P. Mitchell on April 11th, 1941.

Alice was raised in Emmet County, one of six children and attended schools in Estherville. Graduating from Estherville High School in 1934 she then attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, graduating in 1936 with a two-year teaching degree. Her 35 year teaching career began in a one-room school house near Superior, Iowa. After her marriage to Howard, they lived in the Maple Hill area where Howard farmed and Alice taught in the Dolliver school system. Following Howard’s death in 1966, Alice returned to college to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Education. After summers of commuting and off-site classes, she graduated from Drake University in 1970 at the age of 52. Her teaching career continued at Lincoln Central School in Gruver until her retirement in 1984 at the age of 68.

Alice’s legacy will be to all those children who were taught to read in Mrs. Mitchell’s second grade class. She was most proud of this accomplishment and “her kids” – how she enjoyed the continued contact with former students over the years! In her retirement, Alice didn’t slow down. She enjoyed traveling, delivered “Meals on Wheels”, volunteered at the Hospital Auxiliary Coffee Shop, was active in the Kappa Gamma sorority, Estherville Garden Club, and a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church where she particularly enjoyed helping with the annual Scandinavian Tea.

Alice is survived by her daughter, Coleen Smith-Pumphrey. Her grandchildren, Jeff Smith and Jill Smith-Aguirre (Roberto), and two great grandchildren, Sophia and Gabriella Aguirre along with numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Howard, and her siblings, Lillian, Nina, Lloyd, Ray, and Merle as well as her brothers and sisters-in-law. She was also preceded in death by her son-in-law, Donald Pumphrey.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.