Alma Rosina (Preszler) Lumpkin

Alma Rosina (Preszler) Lumpkin, a four decade resident of Mercer Island, passed away at Covenant Shores on January 10, 2015.

She celebrated her 100th birthday on September 7, 2014 with her extended family and many friends. Her parents Adam and Barbara Martel Preszler were a part of a great wave of German farmers who immigrated to the United States to escape Russian persecution in Ukraine. They settled in Eureka, South Dakota where Alma was born.

Like many young women of her day, she was not allowed to finish high school in order for her to work on the farm. She drove a tractor, helped fix meals, preserved food and attended church on Sunday, a life-long joy. Escaping the Dust Bowl, she ventured west meeting her future husband Charles Lumpkin near Yakima where they married in 1939. She attended secretarial school and Charles was hired on at Hanford, where his responsibilities were unknown to his family and friends.

From Yakima, Alma and Charles moved to the Tri-Cities area where they reared their four children. During that time she was finally able to obtain her high school diploma and completed an LPN nursing degree at Columbia Basin College, an achievement of considerable pride to her family. Nursing was her primary career until the couple moved to Mercer Island after retirement.

Redeemer Lutheran Church was Alma’s spiritual home. During her 90’s she attended with her son-in-law Bill Riddle. Church members visited Alma throughout her stay at Covenant Shores, lighting up her days. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren took pride in visiting her. Family meant more than any other part of her life. Often a visitor would bring a book, roses, fruit or chocolate, her favorites.

Alma was predeceased by her parents and husband. She is survived by her four children, Ned (Kirsten), Seattle; Barbara Riddle (Bill), Mercer Island; Charlotte Robbins, Bellevue; and Thomas, Mexico City. Also by her treasured ten grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Family services were held at Sunset Hills Memorial Park, Bellevue on January 14, 2015.