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Charles "Tommy" Thompsonof Philip, South Dakota, died on Wednesday, April 23, 1997
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Charles L. Thompson, better known as "Tommy" to his family and friends, was born November 9, 1919, on the Rush Homestead west of Cottonwood, South Dakota, the son of John L. and Bertha (Rush) Thompson.
He grew up on the homestead and received his education in the Cottonwood area. As a young man he worked as a ranch hand in the Cottonwood and Philip areas.
He served in the U.S. Army as a gunner during World War II, from March 1942 to his discharge in September 1945. He was stationed in Tunisia, Naples-Foggia, Rome Arno, Southern France, and Rhineland.
After his discharge, he returned to the Cottonwood area where he worked as a truck driver for the South Dakota Department of Highway.
He was united in marriage to Hazel C. Ramsey on September 18, 1947, at Pierre, South Dakota. They made their home in Philip until October 1948 when they moved to their present ranch located six miles southeast of Philip. They operated the ranch until retiring in 1984, and they continued to reside on the ranch until his death.
Tommy was a member of the First Lutheran Church, the Wheeler-Brooks American Legion Post #173, and the Bad River Citizens Center, all of Philip.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Hazel Thompson of Philip; two sons, Jerry Thompson and his wife, Penny, of Philip, and Russell Thompson of Sundance, Wyoming; five grandchildren: Blake Thompson, Nicki Thompson, Shannon Moline, Levi Thompson, and Luke Thompson; one brother, Claude "Punch" Thompson of Cheyenne, Wyoming; two sisters, Enid Theisen of Hot Springs and Lorraine Tennyson of Rapid City; a special cousin, Thelma Johannesen of Cottonwood; and a host of other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Christine Thompson, in July 1948; and his parents.
The family reuquest memorials be directed to the Bad River Senior Citizens Center or the Wheeler-Brooks American Legion Post #173.
Services
Saturday, April 26, 1997
1:00 p.m.
United Church
Philip, South Dakota
Officiating
Pastor Donald Lagge
Music
Marilyn Millage - Organist
Elvera Moos - Soloist
"One Day At A Time"
"The Lord's Prayer"
First Lutheran Church Choir
"Battle Hymn of the Republic"
Ushers
David Hemmingson - Miles Wheeler
Active Pallbearers
Blake Thompson - Nicki Thompson
Shannon Moline - J.R. Moline
Levi Thompson - Luke Thompson
Honorary Pallbearers
The Card Room Gang and
all the relatives and friends in attendance
Interment with Military Honors
by Wheeler-Brooks American Legion Post #173
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota
Services
Saturday, April 26, 1997
1:00 p.m.
United Church in Philip