Emma Louise (Andresen) THOMPSEN

THOMPSEN, ANDRESEN, PETERSON, KINPORTS, MARIS, JOHNSTON, RAHN, JORGENSEN, MATHEASON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/29/2006 at 15:30:09

Emma Louise Thompsen, 94, died, September 9, 2006 at the Belmond Health Care Center. Services were held September 12, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Belmond with the Reverend Lowell Halvorson officiating. Burial was in the Belmond Cemetery prior to the service. Emma was born September 7, 1912 in Estherville, the daughter of Andrew and Lena (Peterson) Andresen. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church near Wallingford. She attended rural school, Violet Dale University, near Wallingford, and high school at Estherville. Emma married Albert Peter "Dutch" Thompsen on May 23, 1931 at Immanuel Lutheran. She and Dutch lived in Graettinger where they owned a grocery store. They lived in California for a short time. They moved back to Graettinger and farmed until 1945, when they purchased C.C. McGuire Clothing Store in Belmond, later known as Thompsen Clothing. Emma worked in the store as well as Dougherty Jewelry. A creative and artistic person, at age twelve Emma won a blue ribbon at the Iowa State Fair for showing a 4-H outfit. She made draperies, hand-smocked dresses for her daughters, and also embroidered. Emma was an excellent baker, with pies and caramel rolls being her specialty. She had a flair for fashion and continued that interest until her death. Some of Emma's Belmond activities included church circle, youth group sponsor to Colorado, book club, Century Club, bridge, and bowling. She and Dutch wintered in Harlingen, TX where Emma led an exercise group for several years. Upon entering the Care Center in 2002, Emma continued her creative ways by decorating miniature boxes which she gave away to her family and friends. She had a warm welcome and smile for everyone.

Emma was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters Etta Howard and Dorothy Andresen; and brothers August Andresen and Ernest Andresen. Emma is survived by children Jim (Louise) Thompsen of Princeton, IL, Carole (Larry) Kinports of Largo, FL, Sharon (Doc) Maris of Milford, and Douglas (Fonda) Thompsen of Belmond; grandchildren William Thompsen, Kirsten Johnston, David Kinports, Brian Kinports, James Kinports, Robert Kinports, Paul Maris, John Maris, Rachel Rahn, Ashley Jorgensen and Lindsay Thompsen; eighteen great-grandchildren; brother Herman Andresen of Terril; and sister Helen Matheason of Graettinger.

September 12, 2006
©Belmond Independent 2006