At 93 years old, legal blindness and ailments common to age have slowed Madeline Johanna Perschon Thompson, but over the years, her desire to do good has only intensified.

She learned to knit and crochet while sitting at her mother's knee. Now she knits blankets, sweaters and hats for grandchildren and, in the past four years, has knitted 4,000 hats and booties for children in Bosnia and Guatemala.

Macular degeneration has robbed her eyesight, but she is able to visualize with her mind's eye the thousands of little feet warmed in her booties. It is a concept that comforts her thoughts in the winter of her years. She donates her knitted items to the Church Humanitarian Center for distribution as needed around the world.

Knitting has given Sister Thompson purpose — perhaps even an extension on life. Everyone needs to feel needed and useful in life, she believes, and what better way than keeping busy by serving.

She can discern light colored yarn, but cannot see well enough to knit by sight. She now knits by the tender touch of her fingers, a special challenge with this intricate handiwork. Dropping a stitch creates an elusive problem, often causing her to unravel her work to find the culprit stitch.

She's able to knit or crochet most days, though severe arthritis slows her motions. Unable to see her creations, she relies on the assurance of her children that the booties and hats are "nice enough to give to the sweet children."

Reared in the home of faithful parents, she learned firsthand the joys of caring for others. Her father, William F. Perschon, served as a bishop in the Pioneer Stake in Salt Lake City while Harold B. Lee served as president during the Great Depression.

President Lee was known to visit Bishop Perschon's paint store to discuss the welfare program. One day, President Lee stopped by to ask for Bishop Perschon's faith and prayers to aid him in a presentation he was to give that day to the First Presidency describing the stake's welfare effort.

While her parents left home to care for others in the ward on many evenings, Madeline Johanna Perschon and her older siblings remained behind to care for the younger ones in the family. — Shaun Stahle