Doris Thompson

Doris Thompson

March 15, 1923 - Feb. 6, 2014

CALLAWAY, Neb -- Doris Maude Carpender was born March 15, 1923, to parents Ralph and Maude, on the family farm four miles east of Johnstown, Nebraska. Doris was the last of five children -- two brothers died in infancy and two older sisters, Ellen and Charlotte, preceded her in death. After her father's death in 1938, the family moved to Wood Lake, where Doris graduated from high school. She graduated from Hastings College in 1943 with a bachelor of art degree in business administration. During her college years, she traveled to Stockville one weekend to visit her sister, Ellen, who was the County Home Demonstration Agent, and attended an ice skating party on Medicine Creek where she met Leo Dean Thompson.

Doris and Dean were married June 20, 1943, at the Episcopal Church in Hastings and the newlyweds made their home on the Thompson farm just south of Stockville, where Doris resided for 70 years. Their son, George Dean, was born in 1947 and daughter, Josephine Elaine, in 1950. Doris was a hard working farm wife, operating tractors and farm machinery alongside Dean, raising chickens and geese, milking cows and of course, tending a big garden. Doris and Dean were active in many community projects and loved getting together with friends for card parties. They were excellent dancers and often attended dances in Indianola. They loved dancing to the "Big Bands" of Glenn Miller, Jimmy Dorsey and Guy Lombardo in McCook. Both Dean and Doris participated in Blue Rock Shooting.

Dean passed away in 1962, and Doris continued to farm for many years with George's help. She was active in Eastern Star, the Stockville Woman's Club, which was first organized at her home in 1953, Kensington Club, Ground Observer Corp, Friendship Club, and the Congregational Church. Doris reported precipitation for the National Weather Service for 36 years. She was busy raising her children and caring for her mother-in-law, Lottie, and her aunt, Susie Phillips, who also made their home with her. She always found time for helping friends and neighbors in need with a casserole, homemade cake, a bouquet of flowers from her garden or taking them shopping or to appointments.

Her top priority was her children and attending their activities. She set a great example of how to live. She often drove a car load of basketball boys to games while George was attending high school or helped Jo with a 4-H project. Doris had many interests, hobbies and talents that included bird watching, putting jig saw puzzles together, gardening, fishing, playing Pitch, and watching any baseball games. She enjoyed going with George to hunt coyotes and deer... and if a coon was caught swiping bird feed from the feeders, she could take care of that too, even if it meant putting the gun on the walker to get outside. She loved Nebraska volleyball and basketball and even watched an occasional Nebraska football game just to please her son-in-law. She wrote Stockville news for local papers, sold Tupperware for 20 years, worked as a bailiff for the County Court and was also a substitute postmaster. She enjoyed knitting and writing cards and letters and always, always wrote a thank you note for any gift or help given to her. She was probably composing the thank you in her head as she was unwrapping the gift!! She planned ahead with special occasion cards and after Doris' passing, Jo found Valentine cards Doris had addressed and stamped for the great-granddaughters.

In September 1970, Doris was selected as "Rural Homemaker of the Month" in the Electric Farmer magazine. In 1989, she was honored with a "Good Neighbor Award" From the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben. In 2009, the Woman's Club dedicated their cookbook to Doris as she was the sole remaining charter member of the club. And in August 2011, at age 88, she received a national honor from the National Weather Service, the "John Campanius Holm Award" for outstanding service to their agency and to her community as well.

Doris saw many changes take place in the world during her almost 92 years and in her beloved Stockville during the 70 years she lived here. She wrote in a book for Jo, "When I came to Stockville, there was a church, court house, drug store, post office, bank, telephone office, pool hall, grocery store, repair garage, café, hardware store, two filling stations, conservation office, grade school and high school, and a lodge hall with a shooting gallery and Ten Pin Alley and movies were also shown in that building." And through all of the changes, Doris was proud to be a part of this quaint and quiet special little place called Stockville.

Doris felt she was blessed by being grandma to the two best grandsons ever and was doubly blessed when Mike and Dan married Ann and Heidi. And then came four precious great-granddaughters, Jodean, Sadie, Karsyn and Tallyn. Her greatest joy was having the grandsons and families come for a visit or receiving a phone call and hearing "Hi Grandma T" from her little girls.

Doris was so thankful to enjoy good health and remain in her farm home for so many, many years. She moved to Senior Living Choices in Curtis in August of 2013 and then to the Good Life Center in Callaway in January 2015. After a brief illness, she passed away on Feb. 6, 2015, at the Callaway Hospital.

Doris was an amazing, strong-willed and hard working woman, and will be missed by all that knew her. She is survived by son, George and wife, Jean of Stockville, daughter, Jo Chesley and husband, Dave of Callaway; grandson, Mike and wife, Ann and their daughters Jodean and Sadie of Chadron; grandson, Dan and wife, Heidi and their daughters, Karsyn and Tallyn of Harrisburg; and also two step-grandsons, Randy and Kelly Metcalf.

Services will be at the Stockville Congregational Church with Rev. David Seibert officiaiting. Interment will be in the Arbor Cemetery of Stockville. The casket will be closed to the public. In lieu of flowers the family has asked the memorials be left in Dori's name to the Congregational Church in Stockville.

Lockenour-Jones Mortuary is in charge of services.