Donald Edgar Thompson

Donald Thompson, 86, longtime Arthur County rancher, died Wednesday, January 17, 2018, in the Centennial Park Retirement Village in North Platte.

Donald Edgar Thompson was born March 2, 1931 in Sutherland, Nebr. the son of Orville D. and Lena (Kruger) Thompson. He lived all his life in Arthur County, attending grade school at Center Valley District 12. He graduated from Arthur High School in 1948. 

On December 31, 1950 Don married Helen Reichenberg in Napa, Cal. They lived near Duck Lake in Arthur County until moving to Arthur in 2012. 

Don helped his Dad ranch until his death, and then continued to help his Mother until her death. Besides ranching he did electrical and construction work. For many years he was Highway Superintendent and Weed Superintendent for the three counties of Arthur, McPherson, and Logan. 

He was a member of the Center Valley Baptist Church and then the Arthur Baptist Church. He and his brother Dean and many others provided a Summer Christian Ranch Camp for several years. He was also a member of the Ogallala Gideon Camp for many years. 

Don enjoyed many hobbies. He was an amateur radio operator for over 50 years and spoke with people all over the United States and around the world. He enjoyed wood working and making tricycle puzzles and giving them away. 

Preceding him death were his parents, sister and brother-in-law Evelyn and Robert Shimmin, sister-in-law Doris Thompson, and great-grandson Gideon Clark.

Survivors include his wife Helen Thompson; three sons: Raymond (Mary) Thompson of Celina, TX., Tommy (Terri) Thompson of Olathe, KS., and Billy Thompson of Arthur; one daughter Mary (David) Edwards of North Platte; two brothers: Dean Thompson of Arthur and Jack (June) Thompson of Loveland, Colo. Also seven granddaughters: Jill Johnson of Glenwood, IA; Sarah (Adam) Smith of Wheat Ridge, Colo.; Martha (Nicholas) Suddarth of Olathe, KS; Lynn Thompson of Olathe, KS; Rebecca (Josh) Clark of Gillette, WY; Rachel Thompson of McKinney, TX; and Dara Edwards of Chadron; two grandsons: Nathan Edwards of Lincoln and Shane Thompson of Ovid, Colo.; 12 great-grandchildren and lots of nieces and nephews. 

The Memorial Service will be Saturday, February 3, at 2 p.m. in the Arthur Baptist Church with Tommy Thompson and Pastor Blake Wilkes officiating. The Service will be live streamed , for those unable to attend. Inurnment is in the Arthur Cemetery. Memorials have been established to the Arthur Baptist Church and to the Gideons International Organization.

Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala is entrusted with the arrangements.

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