Iris Allum ’49
2004 Humanitarian of the Year

Iris Allum has spent much of her working life serving others. As a missionary to Japan for 28 years, she worked with rural people sharing God’s love, preaching the Gospel and teaching Bible classes. She also taught English as a second language to the Japanese. Her missionary work was through the General Board of Global Missions of the United Methodist Church.

Allum was born in Herrick, but has lived in Gregory for a number of years, where she is involved in the Gregory Library Club. She previously was involved in the Women’s Club.
After attending DWU from 1939 through 1941, she was a secretary at First United Methodist Church in Rapid City. She returned to DWU and completed her bachelor’s degree, graduating in 1949. As a student at DWU, Allum worked in the bookstore and was a church secretary. She later earned a master’s degree in religious education from Scarritt College in Nashville.

Allum has taught Sunday school and has been a Sunday school superintendent. She has held the office of local president and district treasurer for United Methodist Women. She is also a member of the DWU Heritage Roll of Honor.