Carrie (Ryen) Thompson (1867-1947)

RYEN, THOMPSON, MICHAELSON, CHRISTIANSON, RICHARDSON, RYG, ANDERSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:13

From Nevada Evening Journal November 6, 1947 (page 4)

Last Rites for Carrie Thompson Held Saturday

Funeral services were held last Saturday, Nov. 1 for Mrs. Carrie Ryan* Thompson whose death occurred October 28. The services were in charge of her pastor Rev. O. Holen. There was a short prayer service at the home of her son Silas at 1:30, Miss Rhoda Hondred sang a solo, "What A Friend We Have In Jesus." The funeral service at 2 p. m. was held in the Salem Lutheran church at Roland. Rev. Holen used the same text, taken from Revelations, that he used at the funeral services for her husband in 1929. Mr. Otis Boyd sang two solos, "In The Garden" and "One Sweetly Solemn Thought".

Many memorial gifts for various missions were received in her memory. The pall bearers were her nephews: Jeffrey Richardson and Clarence Ryg, of Slater, Noble Christianson and Sherman Thompson, of Ames, Herman Ryan of Radcliffe and Otis Anderson of Roland. Interment was made in the Roland cemetery beside her husband.

A large number of friends and relatives were present, those coming a distance were the sister-in-law Mrs. Mary Ryan and Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Randall, Ellendale, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Dotson, Armstrong, Iowa, Nelse Anderson, Clarion, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Wierson, Marshalltown and many from Hamilton, Hardin, Boone and Story counties.

***

The following obituary was read by the pastor also the tribute from a neighbor of forty years of close friendship.

Carrie Ryan Thompson* was born April 14, 1867 at Ulen, Norway, and died October 28, 1947 near Roland, Iowa, being 80 years, 6 month and 14 days old. She came to America with her parents at the age of four, settling near Lisbon, Illinois. Here she was confirmed, having been baptized in Norway, she remained a faithful member of the Lutheran church during her lifetime. Some years later she moved to Iowa, settling near Slater. She was married to Charlie T. Thompson in March, 1892 in the Kelly Lutheran church. They established their home near Lisbon, Ill. where they lived six years and then returned to Iowa. In 1909 they moved into Milford township where she lived until her death. Three sons, Casper, Silas and Bert were born into the home. Bert passed away in 1917 following and accident at school and the husband died in 1929. She is survived by the two sons, Casper and Silas, the daughter-in-law Cleopha and the grandson Clarion in the immediate family. Four sisters, Mrs. Lena Michaelson and Mrs. Helen Christianson, both of Slater, with a number of nieces and nephews and a host of friends to mourn her passing.

Carrie Thompson was a member of the Salem Lutheran church of Roland and was interested and active in the Ladies Aid and Circle as her health permitted. A few years ago she suffered a fall which injured her seriously and has been in failing health for some time. During these last years she has been tenderly cared for by her sons and loving daughter-in-law, these years have been made very happy the presence of her only grandchild, Clarion.

Last Saturday evening she became critically ill, flu-pneumonia developed rapidly and although she was given every care that loving hearts and hands could give she passed peacefully away Tuesday night. The death of Carrie Thompson has brought sorrow to the whole neighborhood where for forty years her home has been the symbol of the highest type of neighborly hospitality. To those of us who loved her she has left a rich heritage--the art of kindly living.

A Tribute

"The length of days are in her right hand."

Carrie Thompson lived those days as God planned. Her days and years number four-score. In this brief tribute we would like to tell, no what those years did to her, but what she did to them. She took them one by one, and made them years of services, service to her family and friends. During those years her tasks were the quiet homely ones--the ones that make for gracious living.

The years brought her a goodly share of human sorrow and tragedy, but when we went to comfort her, somehow, we were the ones strengthened and comforted by her kindly ministrations--a cup of coffee, a piece of cake, a kindly word--always in her gracious way. Children loved her, for them there was ever a cookie, or a piece of candy, with a quiet smile, a smile that will live always in their memory.

It might have been of her these words were written, "Her ways are the ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace."

During the many weeks of suffering which her husband endured she was his faithful nurse and companion, soothing away hi pain until he was permitted to pass on in perfect peace and faith. She lived those eighty years in sweet, quiet dignity, unassuming and spiritually unafraid. Emerson, the poet has said, "You may search the wide world over looking for the beautiful and never find it except you have it in your own soul." Carrie Thompson surely found the beautiful. We know her Master, whom she loved, will say of her, "She hath done what she could."

*SUBMITTER'S NOTE: Carrie Ryen Thompson was the daughter of Nels T. Ryen and Karrie Durheim. The spelling of her maiden name should be "Ryen" not "Ryan" as stated.