Laura was born November 22, 1916, to Fred and Ida Dachtler at the home of her grandparents, Charles and Rosena Dachtler, north of Sturgis. In spring of 1917, the family moved on the old Littlefield farm about 15 miles straight north of Sturgis near the Sam Martin place. In the spring of 1921, the family moved on another place of 320 acres on the Stinking Water Creek called the Holmdahl farm. The spring of 1924, they rented the Orean Pickering farm that joined the Holmdahl place and had good buildings where they lived for 24 years. While living on the Pickering place, Laura attended Oakdale School with her sister, Rose, and brother, Perry.

She helped milk cows and the family brought cream to the Whitewood Creamery by team and wagon. She helped with the farming by operating a variety of equipment with the teams.

Laura learned to read by reading fruit boxes at home and used her reading ability to read what books her family owned. The teacher started Laura in the 3rd grade because of her ability to read. She missed one of her early years of school due to illness. She skipped the 6th grade to join three other 7th graders and graduated from 8th grade at the age of 12. She attended Whitewood High School for two years, and she completed her last 2 years of High School in Spearfish where she was able to work for board and room.

After finishing two years at Spearfish Normal, Laura received her State Teaching Certificate and taught country elementary schools for four years at Tepee Creek School south of Marcus, Eden School north of Sturgis, Red Top School of Viewfield, and Riverside School between Nisland and Newell.

Laura met Reid Compton while teaching at Tepee Creek School where his younger sister, Hazel, was a student. They were married June 3, 1940, at her parents' home in Whitewood Valley by Rev. C.D. Erskine. It was raining so hard that they had to use a team of horses to pull cars through the mud to the house and away after the wedding.

After working for other ranchers and leasing a ranch, Reid and Laura bought and developed their ranch, south of Marcus. They lived on the ranch from 1945 to retirement in 1990 and raised their family. From 1973 to 1990, they split their time between the ranch and their house in Sturgis.

Laura was a two time survivor of colon cancer, enduring two cancer surgeries 50 years apart. Fifty years made a huge difference in the approach to surgery.

She was a 70 year member of SD Extension Club and active in 4-H, White Owl school board, Flying Farmers and Ranchers, and taught Sunday school in Marcus and Plainview. She enjoyed playing piano and singing, sewing clothes, and baking decorative cakes.

Laura Ida Compton, age 100, died of a stroke on November 30, 2016, in Spearfish, SD.

Laura is survived by her two sons, Myron (Nadine) of Spearfish and Charles (Myra) of Bringhurst, IN; four grandchildren, Paul Compton (Janell), Susan Steiner (Ken), Nathan Compton (Greta), Michelle Booster (Scott); six great-grandchildren, Bash and Bea Footh, Maegan Steiner, Elianna Booster, MiKaylin Booster, and Anneliese Compton

She was preceded in death by her husband, L. Reid Compton, and her siblings, Rose and Perry.

Visitation will be Tuesday, December 6, 2016, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis, SD.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, December 7, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis with Rev. Denzel Nonhof officiating. Burial will follow at Bear Butte Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Laura's memory to First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis or American Cancer Society.