BILL THOMPSON obituary

Bill Thompson, 84, a longtime Williston, N.D. resident, formerly of Glasgow, Mont., and Havre, Mont., passed away Thursday evening, Feb. 18, 2010, at his home with his family by his side. His funeral will be celebrated Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, at 2 p.m. The Rev. Martin Mock will officiate, and interment will follow at Our Savior's Cemetery. A family service, open to friends and family will be held Monday at 7 p.m. at Everson Memorial Chapel. William A. Thompson was born Aug. 1, 1925, (a very good year) in Havre, Mont., the son of John J. and Rosa Marie (Putra) Thompson. He was raised on the family's ranch, 27 miles south of Havre. He went to the Faber School and Havre High School. He quit school as a sophomore and worked at home and the Diamond Bar Ranch. Bill entered service with the U.S. Army on Oct. 30, 1943. He sail.ed overseas in 1944 aboard a liberty ship, the Christa Ball, enduring 14 days of rough seas and U-boats to fight with the 415th Infantry Regiment of the 104th Infantry Division in northern France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. The 104th took Cologne and liberated the concentration camp at Nordhausen, a camp of unimaginable atrocities. He was awarded the Bronze Star, E x p e r t a n d C o m b a t Infantryman Badges and the European African Middl e Eastern Service and Good Conduct Medals. He was honorably discharged on Oct. 15, 1945, and sailed home on the J. Ericsson to New York Harbor where they disembarked. The following day the ship turned over and burned. After he arrived home, Bill worked on several ranches. He eventually began work for the Great Northern Railroad in 1949 on a section crew. In 1950 he began work in the car shops, 1951 on engine service as a fireman on steamers and diesels, and was promoted to engineer in 1964. He was the last engineer to operate a steam engine in Montana and was the first to drive the brand new Amtrak from Glasgow to Minot, N.D. In 1972 he married Jeraldine Bibler and they made their home in Glasgow, Mont., for 14 years before locating on their 10 acres in Stony Creek Township in 1986. In 1988 Bill was elected township supervisor, a role he would serve for the next 18 years. He enjoyed g a rd e n i n g a n d working on hi s John Deere tractors. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Moose Lodge, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and served on Our Savior's Church Council as secretary. Surviving Bill are his wife, Jeraldine, of Williston; his sons, James (Debra) Thompson of Katy, Texas, Ronald (Marge) Thompson of Whitefish, Mont., and Joseph Thompson of Kalispell, Mont .; his daughter, Lori (Terry) Holleman of Kenai, Ark .; his grandchildren, Sharon (John) Har r i s of Kenai , Rosalind (Jay) Chedotal of Katy, James and Bill Thompson of Whitefish; his great-grandchildren, Georgia and Josiah West of Katy and Isabelle and Benjamin Harris of Kenai; his sister, Elizabeth Brown of Havre; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Rosa Thompson; his sisters, Edna Thompson and Cather ine Bradbury; and his brothers, John and Thomas Thompson. In lieu of flowers, friends may give to the charity of one's choice. Friends may call at the Everson Funeral Home of Williston, Monday from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., Tuesday from 9 until 11 a.m., and at the church for the hour preceding the funeral. Friends may also visit www. Eversonfh.com to share remembrances of Bill. The Everson Funeral Home is caring for the family.