Iris May (Neville) Pratt , 85, formerly of Minot, passed away November 6, 2006 at St. Anne Care Facility in Winona, Minnesota.

Iris was born on July 25, 1921 in St. Albans, England, to Reginald Thomas James and Beatrice Mary (Wade) Neville. During World War II, Iris worked at a GE plant and served her country as an Air Raid worker. She lived in London during this time, which is when she met her husband, Joseph Eugene Pratt. Iris and Gene met when Gene (a U.S. Army soldier) and his buddies got lost in London during an air raid, which posed a mandatory black out. Iris and Gene were married in London on February 17, 1945.

Following the war, Gene was sent to the United States and Iris followed in the spring of 1946. After arriving in New York, Iris took the train to Mississippi, where she was reunited with her husband after more than a year apart.

Iris and Gene moved in 1961 to North Dakota, where he worked as a bricklayer in several communities before settling in Minot in 1962. Gene died August 12, 1977.

Iris continued to live in Minot until 1986, when she moved to Georgia for several years. She had made her home in Winona for the past eight years.

Iris was known for her great personality, beautiful crocheted doll dresses, table scarves, knitted afghans, sweaters and her enjoyment of bowling. Iris was a youth bowling coach and loved to watch the kids get excited when they did well. While living in Minot, Iris was active at All Saints Episcopal Church, where she served on the Church's Guild and in the choir and member of Floral Rebekah Lodge #14.

Her loving family includes : Children: Mary Grafton Krogh and husband, Blaine of Winona, MN, Barbara Pratt of Lake City, MN, Linda Ames of Lake, MI and James Pratt of Detroit, MI; Eleven Grandchildren, Fourteen Great-Grandchildren; Brother: David Neville and his wife, Beth of Blackshear, GA;

Iris was preceded in death by her parents, husband, granddaughter, Kimberly and sister, Margaret.

Funeral service : Friday, November 10, 2006 at 1:00pm at All Saints Episcopal Church, Minot
Interment : Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.
Visitation: Thursday form 2:00-7:00pm in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials: Memorials are preferred to Adith Miller Manor, Winona or Alzheimer's Research.