William A. THOMPSON and Dorothy M. (Toinbee) THOMPSON

THOMPSON, TOINBEE, NELSON, WATSON, BOEHMER, ALBERTSON, MURL, HUGO, WHIPPLE, SCHLICHTING, JILEK, MAHANEY, GOLL, THEILEN, STEPLETON, WITHAM, KEITH, DUNN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/28/2007 at 14:22:19

November 9, 2004

Dorothy M. Thompson, 79, of Mason City, died on Saturday, October 30, 2004, at the St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, following complications of heart surgery.

William A. Thompson, 81, of Mason City, died on Sunday, October 31, 2004, at the USA Healthcare in Mason City of a broken heart.

Funeral services for Bill and Dory were held on Friday, November 5, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City, with Rev. Kenneth Hatland officiating. Interment was in the Elmwood St. Joseph Cemetery, with military rites.

Bill was born on April 26, 1923 in Belmond, the son of Richard and Matilda Thompson and Helen Nelson. Dorothy was born on November 16, 1924 in Mason City, the daughter of William and Minnie (Watson) Toinbee. They had a storybook romance. Bill met Dory in the summer of 1940 and spent the summer together roller skating and swimming at the Bay Side Amusement Park in Clear Lake, and bowling in Mason City. Bill graduated from the Belmond High School in 1941 and Dory from the Mason City High School in 1942. Bill's first job was a telephone lineman and he then worked as a farm handyman. In 1942, he became employed at State Brand Creamery (AMPI) in Mason City until he was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1943. Bill traveled across Africa and Italy where he was wounded in action. After recuperating, he rejoined his company and fought across France and into Germany. He was involved in six major campaigns, received 14 medals, and attained the rank of Sergeant. Among his medals were the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Dory worked for Decker's Packing Co. and eagerly awaited the end of WW II. Honorably discharged from the Army, Bill made a mad dash for Mason City to marry his sweetheart. One month later, on her birthday in 1945, they were married at the Little Brown Church. He returned to State Brand Creamery where he worked for 42 years. Dory was a wonderful wife and mother. She always welcomed family and friends into their home, often asking if they were hungry or offering a roll and coffee. She enjoyed cooking and would watch cooking shows for new ideas. She kept her mind sharp by working crossword puzzles and her hands busy with crocheting. Each fall she looked forward to a trip to the apple orchards. Bill was a great husband and father. He passed on his hobbies to his children. He was competitive in billiards and was the Mason City champion for several years. Bill also enjoyed bowling, golfing and woodworking. Bill and Dory loved spending time with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Every Wednesday was family supper night. Together they enjoyed fishing, playing cards, and were diehard Cubs fans.

They were preceded in death by daughter, Sally Ann Thompson; Dory's parents; her sisters, Lucille Boehmer, Edna Albertson, Patricia Murl and Marcella Hugo; her brothers, Robert, William and LeRoy Toinbee; Bill's parents; his sister, Anita Whipple; and his brothers, Richard, Donald and Roger Thompson. Survivors include their children, Sandi (Ron) Schlichting of Clear Lake, Bill (Cheryl) Thompson of Mason City, Deb (Chris) Jilek of Mason City, Kyle (Wendy) Thompson of Rockford and Mindy (James) Mahaney of Mason City; grandchildren, Derek (Angie) Goll, Deirdre (Tom) Witham, Billie (Rod) Keith, Tommie Jo Thompson, Chad (Angie) Jilek, Lacey Jilek, Ryan Jilek, Mackenzie Dunn, Beth, Chelsie, Chloe Thompson and Drew (Tina) Thompson; great-grandchildren, Alicia, Katelyn, Zach, Alex, Molly, Sydney, Brooke, Jake, Jaime, Nicole, Joey, Kinsey, Matthew, Aubrea, Kailah, Zoey and Lily; Dory's sisters, Annabelle Theilen and Margaret Stepleton and her brother-in-law, LeRoy Hugo all of Mason City; Bill's mother, Helen Nelson of Belmond; brothers, Duan (Linda) Thompson of Belmond and John (Marlys) Thompson of Osage; and sisters-in-law, Betty Thompson of Belmond and Ruth Thompson of Florida.

©Belmond Independent 2004