Arlene Thompson, of Dawson, died Sunday, June 2, 2013 at the Johnson Memorial Hospital at the age of 80.
Memorial services was Wednesday, June 5, 2013, at 10:30 AM, at Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson with Pastors Kendall Stelter and Erica Benson officiating; scripture lessons were Isaiah 40:26-31, Romans 8:28-39 and John 14:1-4; personal eulogies were by grandchildren, Alexander Thompson and Chelsie Bothun; vocalist, Dean Pearson sang "I Will Rise" and a recording by Elvis singing "How Great Thou Art" was played; and organist, Chris Lehne accompanied the singing of "His Eye Is On the Sparrow" and "On Eagle's Wings." "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" was played as the Prelude. Urnbearer was Alexander Thompson and the honorary were Kacie Thompson, Chelsie (Ben) Bothun, Tessa (Wade) Sather, Kallie Saboe, Mason and Max Bothun and Madelyn and Colten Sather. Interment was at Grace Lutheran Cemetery.
Visitation was Tuesday from 5-7:00 PM at the Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson with a prayer service at 7:00 PM.
Ruth Arlene (Agre) Thompson was born March 5, 1933 at a farmsite north of Boyd, MN the daughter of Richard and Helen (Knutson) Agre. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Boyd. Arlene attended country school and graduated from Boyd High School in 1951. After graduation, she worked as a nurses aid at the Montevideo Hospital. She started dating Virgil Thompson when she was a sophomore in high school and they were married November 14, 1953. They lived in Oklahoma where Virgil was stationed until April of 1955. They returned to Minnesota and lived with Arlene’s father at Boyd for a short time before moving to Dawson in 1957 where Virgil was in business as a barber. Arlene worked as a waitress, teacher aid and for over 33 years at Johnson Memorial Care Center. She loved her job.
Arlene was a kind hearted person always willing to take care of other peoples needs. She cared for her father for 5 years at her home. If her sisters family had illness, she would take their children into her own home and care for them until all was well. She loved to have the grandkids stay overnight at her home and entertain them. Arlene was a very good cook. She loved to have all the family over on special holidays and birthdays. There was always an abundance of good food and desserts.
She is survived by her husband, Virgil; two children: Richard (Patti) Thompson of Montevideo and Lynette (Mark) Saboe of Dawson; five grandchildren: Alexander Thompson, Kacie Thompson, Chelsie (Ben) Bothun, Tessa (Wade) Sather, and Kallie Saboe; four great-grandchildren: Mason and Max Bothun and Madelyn and Colten Sather; a sister, Dorothy (Alfred) Dikken of Willmar; and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents and a sister, Ruby (Charles) Doose.