Ellen Louise (Wheeldon) Thompson (2016)
BOOTS, FISH, FRANKLIN, LAW, PAULIN, PINEGAR, SCHLAGEL, SHEETS, THOMPSON, TRAVIS, WHEELDON
Posted By: Mary Welty Hart
Date: 12/17/2016 at 18:26:22
Roberson - Polley Chapel
Albany, Missouri
Saturday, December 17, 2016ELLEN LOUISE (WHEELDON) THOMPSON,Oregon
Ellen Louise (Wheeldon) Thompson, age 76, left this earth to go home to her heavenly father on December 12th, 2016 in Klamath Falls, Oregon. She married Lyle Edwin Thompson on June 14th, 1959 in Stuart, IA. Of this union were two children, Jody (Mexico) and Monty (Albany, MO).
Ellen was born at home in Earlham, IA on November 19th, 1940 to Morris Herschel and Opal Naomi (Sheets) Wheeldon. She attended grade school Earlham until the family moved to Stuart, IA where she finished her grade school years and graduated from Stuart High School in 1959. Ellen was one of 10 children. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lyle; her parents, brothers Ralph, Donald, Bobby and Richard; her sisters Dorothy, Marie, and Betty. She is survived by her son Jody Thompson (Mexico) and Monty (Becky) Thompson (Albany). Eight grandchildren: Dustin (Jen) Thompson, Timmy Thompson, Megan (Brad) Law, Amanda (William) Franklin, Ashley (Arthur) Pinegar, Savannah Schlagel, Morgan Thompson and Dalton (Shelby) Thompson. 14 great-grandchildren: Peyton, Tyler, Elijah, Juanius, Sariyah, Hayden, Skyler, Hailey, Maddox, Aaliyah, Gentry, Porter, Kerrigan and one on the way. Two sisters: Jean (Bob) Boots, Atlantic, IA and Mary Travis, Southgate, CA. Brothers-in-law, Kenny (Willa) Thompson, Klamath Falls, OR, Charles (companion Bruce) Thompson, Los Ojas, NM; Dean (Theresa) Thompson, Paysen, IL. Two sisters-in-law Madeline (Bob) Thompson, Des Moines, IA and Jean (Bob) Paulin, Grand Rapids, MI. Her companion of many years, Danny Fish and her best friend Brenda Muff. Many nieces, nephews, adopted family members and friends that loved Ellen dearly and she them.
Ellen worked very hard all of her life growing up in Iowa working on the farm. She enjoyed the farm life, doing field work, hay work and livestock. She worked many years with longtime friend Sharon Ambrose off the back of horse wrangling cattle on a large livestock ranch outside Lorimor, Iowa. When Ellen wasn’t working with Sharon, she would help her husband, Lyle, in the timber logging. All while caring for her two boys and running the family home (the boys were enough by the way).
In 1979 Ellen and Lyle, along with friends John and Joyce Worrell bought property northwest of Albany, MO and moved here to farm and log the timber. Ellen began working in Albany when the One Stop opened and worked there for many years, treating every customer as a friend, she knew no strangers. No matter who she came in contact with, she made their day with her smile and her whit.
Ellen enjoyed life all around. She loved riding horses, her dog Kimo and bowling too. She was in a league, in Albany, for many years and enjoyed her time and friendships she built with Betty Angle, Sue Hopkins, Linda Combs, Carolyn Stevens and many others.
Ellen loved her family very much and many summers when Dustin, Timmy, Amanda and Ashley were younger, they would come spend time with her and Lyle. When she could she had any and/or all of her grandchildren showing them how to enjoy life but not cross the lines. She would do anything for her family too. She helped care for her mother, her sisters Dorothy and Betty during their illnesses and her brother Richard when she could.
Later in life Ellen began her own business of housecleaning and caring for others. She enjoyed this very much and each one of the individuals became part of her family. She found this work very rewarding by making lifetime friends that she cared for. Ellen always had time to stop what she was doing and go help the people she cared for no matter what time of day it was. Ellen lived in Albany with her companion, Danny Fish for many years and her beloved dog, Kimo.
After suffering a broken hip from a fall 2014, then a severe stroke in 2015 and being diagnosed with lung cancer 2015, Ellen was no longer able to live on her own, which frustrated her very much because she had always been the care taker not the taker of care. Ellen moved in with her son Monty and his family where she was cared for and greatly loved. During this time, she spent many afternoons playing Nertz with Joyce, napping, talking on the phone or just visiting with family and friends who came to see her. Ellen was cared for by not only family but Kristina Anderson and Dixie Sherrill when family couldn’t be there. Ellen was enjoyed helping out with her great-granddaughter, Kerrigan June and giving her rides in the wheelchair. Ellen loved her grandkids and great-grandkids very much and was very, very proud of all of them. She was amazed at how smart Gentry was and how ornery Porter was but enjoyed being able to see them when she could.
Ellen had started her bucket list. On that bucket list she wanted to travel to see family and friends. With the help of her oldest son, Jody, they set out on December 6th for a two-week travel vacation. They travelled to New Mexico first where she was able to visit with her niece, Pam and then on to the home of Charles and Bruce, where she and Jody stayed for a few days. Then off to Klamath Falls, Oregon to visit Ken and Willa. Upon arrival in Portland, Ellen fell very ill but was able to make it to Klamath Falls. Her next stop was Los Angeles to stay with her sister, Mary; however, she did not finish the journey or make it home for the birth of her 14th great-grandchild as the Good Lord called her home.
Ellen will be greatly missed for her smile, her sweetness, her giving, her loving and caring ways and the way she made people feel. While we on earth do not have her physical presence, we know that God has another angel that is watching over us.
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