Lawrence Benhardt Thompson

THOMPSON

Posted By: Sandra Thompson (email)
Date: 1/17/2011 at 21:09:33

Marshalltown Times-Republican:

Lawrence Benhardt "Skates" or "Larry" Thompson, 79, of rural Maxwell died on July 29, 2005, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, following a courageous battle with emphysema.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will take place at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Marshalltown. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at Westover Funeral Home in Des Moines.

Lawrence was born the second child of six to Louis M. and Ellen M. (Christensen) Thompson on Dec. 3, 1925, in Marshalltown. He attended Marshalltown High School. At the age of 18 Larry went on tour with the Roller Skating vanities as a professional skater. Some of his many accomplishments included performing individually with Bob Hope for the USO at many Air Force Bases, appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show, and working with numerous celebrities. Larry was a member of the American Guild of Variety Artists.

In 1948 he married Marjorie Marie Dodd. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Terrance "Terry", Pamela "Pam" and Barbara "Bobbi." Later, Larry and Marjorie divorced. On Oct. 14, 1972, Larry was united in marriage with Twila Marlene Van Hemert. He resided on an acreage in rural Maxwell until his death.

Larry sold new and used automobiles in the Des Moines area for a total of 50 years. He was most recently employed with Stiver's Lincoln Mercury for the past 20 years, until his retirement in Feb., 2003.

He is survived by his wife Twila M. Thompson of Maxwell; one son Terry Thompson of Miami, Fla.; daughters Pam Thompson and Bobbi Ward, both of Des Moines; step-daughter Michele Bailey of Bondurant; step-son Karl Thompson of Des Moines; brother Irving Thompson of Newton; sisters Catherine Fonken, Lillian Thompson and Patricia Thompson, all of Marshalltown; seven grand-children and one great-grandson.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents and one sister Louise LeVora.