THOMPSON, Harry I. (1883-1985)

BAGGESON, THOMPSON

Posted By: Wayne K Steffensen (email)
Date: 7/7/2008 at 16:46:55

Obituary Notice, Forest City Summit, Forest City, Winnebago County, Iowa , dated Jan 24, 1985

Harry I. Thompson, Oldest Forest City resident died

Forest City's oldest resident, Harry I. Thompson, 101, died Sunday at the Good Samaritan Center in Forest City.

Funeral services for Mr. Thompson were conducted Wednesday afternoon at the Forest City United Methodist church. The Rev. Carroll E. Robinson officiated.

Dan Hetland and Mrs. Tracy Thompson were soloists for the services with Mrs. Earl Deugan as accompanist and Mrs. Franklin Bienert as organist. Casket bearers were Dean Hetland, Eugene Thompson, Tom Thompson, Kevin Thompson, Kelly Thompson, and Tracy Thompson. Burial was in Madison Township cemetery with the Petersen Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Harry I. Thompson, the son of T.I. and Rebecca Baggeson Thompson, was born Dec. 6, 1883, near Huxley. When he was one year old, his family moved to a farm in Linden Township, west of Forest City. Thompson received his education in a rural school near his home and was a member of the first class to enroll at Waldorf College.

May 4, 1910, he was married to Bertina C. Peterson. The couple farmed west of Forest City for many years before retiring to live in Forest City. For 22 years, the Thompson's spent the winter months in Harlingen, Texas. In December 1981, they entered the Good Samaritan Center in Forest City. Mrs. Thompson died Jan 18, 1983.

Mr. Thompson was a founding member of the Forest City Coop Oil Company, a lifetime member of the Farm Bureau and a member of the United Methodist church were he served on the board on several occasions.

Survivors include his children, Orville C. Thompson of Britt, Mrs. Donald (Thora) Clauson, Terry I. Thompson, and Richard D. Thompson, all of Forest City. Mrs. Robert (Elaine) Vergeront of riverside, Calif; 19 grandchildren, and 32 great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are two brothers, Arthur B. Thompson of Omaha, Neb., and Frank Thompson of Charles City; two sisters, Mrs Mabel Bowman of Waterloo, Wis., and Mrs Lillian Levison of Forest City.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, four brothers; Freddie, Elmer, Johnny, and Walter Thompson, a sister, Ida, and a great-grandchild.