Ellen Marie Thompson – born Ellen Marie Williams in 1921, “Spec” Thompson’s first 18 years, was spent in Dell Rapids, South Dakota where she met her husband, Bob Thompson.

After attending nursing school at McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, Spec and Bob were married in Reno, NV, on their way to San Jose, CA where they made their first home in 1941. There, Joy, their first child, was born. When Bob was drafted in 1945, Marie and Joy moved back to South Dakota, living with sister-in- Law “Babe” in Huron and in Howard where Bob’s parents had settled.

Bob’s career in heavy construction succumbed to the family business- banking. Marie and Bob settled into a new home in Howard for the next 40 years until Bob’s death in 1984. Marie was small but mighty. She was a huntress, often accompanying Bob and his men friends hunting geese, ducks, pheasant, deer and elk. Bob, Spec, Joy and son Kent, were tent campers, fishers, water skiers, and snow mobile riders. Marie kept a garden and worked in the local bank for over 50 years, where Bob’s father Art, Bob and Kent all found their careers as well. Marie was active in Extension Club, Eastern Star, PEO, Eight and Forty, American Legion Auxiliary and Bethany Lutheran Church.

After Bob’s death, Marie traveled extensively, enjoying seeing the world with her daughter, Joy and friends made in the banking business. Joy’s home in California and frequent trips to Texas kept Marie in touch with “Snow Birding”. Marie was a singer, a pianist and a seamstress, and she loved to dance. She was proud of her Marine son Kent’s late in life higher education, fulfilling his medical aspirations in becoming an RN.

Those grateful for having shared in her life include her two younger sisters, Willajean and Jacquiline (Billie and Jackie) survive her along with a daughter Joy (Ralph) of Anaheim, CA; and son Kent (Sally) of Howard, SD; two grandsons, Orion and wife Darla and Keir (Art) and wife Kristen; and five great grandchildren, Ciara, Mya, Emma, Hudson, and Jens. Marie’s daughter-in- law, Sally was especially close as was her son-in-law, Ralph.

Marie’s parents, Zeo and Lowell Williams and her husband, Robert Thompson as well as his parents, Etta and Art Thompson preceded her in death. Marie died on March 22nd at Avera Brady where she had lived in Mitchell, S.D. for several years. Her family thanks God for the time we shared with her!

Funeral services will be 11am, Thursday, March 26, 2015 at Bethany Lutheran Church, Howard with burial to follow in Stordahl Cemetery, Dell Rapids, SD. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 to 6pm at the Willoughby Funeral Home, Howard. Condolences may be left at www.willoughbyfh.com