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Photo of Richard A. Thompson

Richard A. Thompson

2/12/1932 - 12/27/2013


Obituary


Richard A. Thompson, 81, of Clarion, Iowa died December 27, 2013, at the Clarion Wellness and Rehabilitation Center in Clarion. He had COPD and the last few weeks, congestive heart failure.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 31, 2013, at 10:30 AM at Holmes Lutheran Church with Pastor Richard Taylor officiating. Burial will be at the Holmes Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Monday, December 30, 2013, from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home,1801 Central Avenue East, in Clarion, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church. 

Richard A. Thompson was born February 12, 1932, on a farm north of Holmes, Iowa to Tilbert A. and Hilma (Carlson) Thompson. He attended rural Lake Township Schools and Clarion Community Schools. Since 1947, he had been engaged in farming in the Clarion Goldfield area until his retirement at age 71, in 2003. In 1950, he enlisted in the 34th MP Bull division of the Iowa National Guard. He received his honorable discharge in 1958, as a staff sergeant.

Richard married Betty Lou Larson on March 14, 1953. They had been married 60 years. He was a lifelong member of Holmes Lutheran Church and served on the Church Council, Wright County Cattlemen’s Board, Wright County Agriculture Stabilization Township Committee, Chairman of Wright County 4-H Youth Committee for 6 years, President and Member of Wright County Fair Board for 12 years and served on the Wright County Planning and Zoning Boards for over 10 years.

He is survived by his wife Betty Lou; three children, Arnold of Naples, FL, Connie of Clarion and Darla of Mesa, AZ; brother, Harold Thompson (Diana) of Mesa, AZ; three sisters, Bertha Ann Erickson (Paul) Clear Lake, Joanne Jensen (Charles) Burnsville, MN and Mari Bernhardt (Kenneth) of Clarion; sister-in-law, Judy Thompson Weir (Jerry) of Clarion and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Phyllis Jean and brother, Philip.