Iris Annabelle Tompkins Obituary (1926

A beloved mom, sister and aunt, Iris Annabelle Tompkins (Knutsen) passed away on Wednesday, October 6, 2010, at the age of 84, after a battle with leukemia. A service will be held at St. John United Lutheran Church, 5515 Phinney Ave N, Seattle 98103 on Saturday, October 23rd 2010, at 2PM. Born in Everett, Wash. on June 18, 1926 to Norwegian immigrants Leif Aasmund Knutsen (a World War I veteran) and Ingeborg (Inga) Anna Anderson, Iris was the third of ten children. Iris is survived by her sons Steven Parker and Allen Tompkins, daughter-in-law Norma Tompkins, her sisters Ruth Sundseth, Sheila Knutsen, of Seattle, and her brother Herb Knutsen and sister-in-law Sandra Knutsen of Missoula, Montana. She was preceded in death by brothers Leif, Elmer, Will, Richard and Lawrence, and sister Olive Helfenberger, and her cat Daisy. After graduating from Everett High School in 1943 A, Iris attended nurses training at Everett General Hospital, receiving her R.N. degree in 1946. Her work as an R.N. took place in Minneapolis, Tacoma, and Seattle, including Providence, Swedish, and Group Health, followed later by work in nursing homes and in home nursing agencies. Iris worked in nursing for over 40 years, and spent her life helping and caring for others. In the early 1970's at Group Health, she championed the welfare of premature infants in the early years when hospitals were still learning new ways to increase infant survival. At great risk to her career, she contacted the major hospitals in Seattle, explaining that water needed to be added to the diet along with formula in order for premature infants to survive. Since then, it has become mandatory practice in all hospitals. Her actions helped to save countless lives. For over fifty years Iris was a member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, where she enjoyed Bible studies, making friends and helping those in need. She loved baking pies for the church and the Compass Center and volunteered serving at "Soup and Movies" Saturdays. Her natural gift for singing hymns was always enjoyed by her fellow church members. Iris loved music with a passion. She studied the violin in school and sang beautifully at church. When she was young, she had hoped to later study violin with the late Bruno Mailer who had accepted her as a student, and study voice at Pacific Lutheran College. She also played the Piano. Sadly, the need to work made this impossible, but Iris later became locally famous for her amazing voice in various Karaoke clubs. A fun night out for her was being taken to Karaoke by one of her family members or meeting with friends for a night of singing. Her home in Fremont was visited by many of her son Allen's friends, who played music there. Friends included members of Soundgarden, Mudhoney, and TAD. She also opened up her home for her son's friends, renting out her basement for music. Iris will be greatly missed, but will be remembered for her loving and joyful spirit, her great inner strength and her appreciation of those who loved her.