Thompson, Raymond (1903-1966)

THOMPSON, OLSEN, PEARSON, BOYKEN, JACOBSON, WINTERS, TRACY

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 2/4/2015 at 16:40:13

Daily Freeman Journal, Thursday, June 9, 1966

Raymond Thompson, 62, prominent Ellsworth farmer and a leader in the turkey production industry in Iowa, died this morning at 6:45 at Mary Greeley hospital in Ames, where he had been a patient for four weeks.

Mr. Thompson pioneered in turkey production and the turkey hatchery business in the Ellsworth area, in addition to his many other farming interests.

Funeral services will be Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran church in Ellsworth. The Rev. Raymond Ehlers will officiate with burial to be in Homewood cemetery. The body will lie in state at the Becker Funeral home until 1:30 p.m. Sunday when it will be taken to the church.

Raymond Thompson, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Thompson, was born Aug. 10, 1903, at Ellsworth and grew to young manhood in that community. He was graduated from St. Olaf's college at Northfield, Minn., and for seven years was a coach at Lake Mills, Iowa.

On April 26, 1934, he was married to Lois Olsen at Freeport, Ill.

Mr. Thompson was a former member and president of the board of education at Ellsworth; a former member and a past president of the Iowa State School Board association, a member of the board of certification for teachers in Iowa; a member of the board for the Beloit Children's Home at Ames, and a member of the board of directors and past president of the Iowa Turkey Federation. He was also a member of the executive committee and past president of the National Turkey Federation, a member of the board of charities of the Lutheran church, a past president of Trinity Lutheran church and a former member of the board of deacons.

He is survived by his wife, three children, Raymond Thompson, Jr., Ellsworth; Mrs. Jerry Pearson, Wilmette, Ill., Mrs. Jeffrey Boyken, Laredo, Texas; three grandchildren; five sisters, Sylvia Thompson, Ellsworth, Mae Thompson, Ellsworth, Mrs. Armyle Jacobson, Thief River Falls, Minn.; Mrs. Harry Winters, Owatonna, Minn., and Mrs. R. R. Tracy, Denison; and five brothers, Thomas, Ellsworth; Pastor M.C. Thompson, Sioux Falls, S. Dak., Dr. J. M. Thompson, Austin, Minn., Harold Thompson, Webster City and William Thompson, Clifton, Texas.