Ethel Angeline Babcock, daughter of John H. and Metta Platts Babcock, was born in Welton, Iowa., Aug. 16, 1872. She died quietly in her home in Dodge Center, Minn., Friday morning, Feb. 15, 1957.
Early in life, the family moved to Farina, Ill., and later to North Loup, Neb. She was an early graduate of the North Loup High School, and taught one year in one of the rural schools near there.
On Sept. 5, 1891, she was married to Charles W. Thorngate, who died Nov. 6, 1952. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary together.
When Mr. Thorngate followed the call of the Spirit to act as a Seventh Day Baptist pastor, his faithful wife followed him. Together they worked in Exeland, Wis., Stone Fort, Ill., Albion, Wis., and Dodge Center, Minn., she with her music and he with preaching. Mrs. Thorngate loved children and young people, and worked with them in her home and in the church. She was a Sabbath School teacher for years. At the time of her death she was pianist for the Dodge Center Sabbath School. In 1955, she was runner-up for the Mother of the Year, for the State of Minn.
Surviving are: six children, Mrs. Myra Barber, Ord, Neb.; Dr George, Monterey, Calif.; John, Eau Claire, Wis.; Mrs. Marguerite Clapper, Dodge Center, Minn; Mrs. W. W. Baldridge, Montgomery, Minn.; and Mary, of Dodge Center and Eau Claire, Wis.; fourteen grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held from the church, all her children and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren being present. Rev. Kenneth Van Horn, her pastor, officiated. Interment will be in the Riverside Cemetery at Dodge Center beside her husband.
