Barb E. Thome, age 86, of Mitchell, SD died Saturday January 22, 2011 at Avera Brady Health and Rehab in Mitchell. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Thursday January 27, 2011 at Will Funeral Chapel with burial at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM Wednesday at the Will Funeral Chapel.

Barbara Ethel Thome, daughter of Henry and Ruth Thackery Whitehouse, was born September 2, 1924 at Haverhill, MA, the oldest of three children, followed by brothers, Bob, Earl and sister Emmy.

Barb attended Lynn Classical High School in Lynn, MA as a young girl, leaving school at the age of 16 to move to Connecticut. In Connecticut she worked on the campus property at Yale University as one of the original Rosie the Riveters, as a factory riveter on B17 Flying Fortresses military fighter planes.

It was there she met Marvin Thome, who had been stationed in the area, teaching airplane mechanics for World War II. After a brief romance they married on November 25, 1943 on the Yale University campus in New Haven, CT, after which they returned to Mitchell, SD.

The first son, Mike was born in 1951, followed by Marvin Jr. in 1954, and youngest Mark in 1962. It was during that time the family motorcycle business blossomed, with Barb actively working with Honda of Mitchell while raising the children. Barb also worked in the cafeteria of Randall Foods for six years from 1966 through 1972.

Besides raising the boys and helping with the shop, Barb often accompanied Marvin on their numerous motorcycle trips, meeting and visiting friends and acquaintances all over the country. Barb and Marv retired from being actively involved in the business in the late 1980s.

Grateful for having shared her life are her three sons, Mike Thome, Mitchell, SD, Marv and Joni Thome, Mitchell, SD Mark and Vickie Thome, Costa Mesa, CA; three grandsons Marshall Thome, Mitchell, SD, John Thome, Mitchell, SD, and Matthew Thome, Costa Mesa, CA; a brother Robert Whitehouse, Campton, NH and a sister, Evelyn (Emmy) OSullivan, Newburyport, MA. and her nieces and nephews in MA. and NH.

Barb was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin on March 17, 1999; her parents; a brother, Earl; and a sister-in-law, Betty Whitehouse.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorial donations may be directed to the attention of : Barbara Thome Memorial, c/o Honda of Mitchell, 2404 Main Street, Mitchell, SD 57301.