Betty Thompson

Betty Rose Thompson, age 98, of Atlantic, Iowa and formerly of Lewis, passed away Monday, September 30, 2024, under the compassionate care of staff at Heritage House and St. Croix Hospice.

Betty was born November 17, 1925, to Bill and Elsie (Cron) Bode on their farm near Lewis, Iowa; the youngest of three daughters. On October 11, 1945, she married her sweetheart, Dula Thompson, in Troy, Kansas, the day after he arrived home from serving three years overseas in the United States Army during World War II. Soon after their marriage they started a family while farming, raising four kids born in 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950. They were devoted to their children, forever attending all of their many football, basketball, track and baseball events. Betty was kept very busy as a housewife and mother until the youngest child graduated high school. After their own children were grown, they helped lovingly raise two of their granddaughters, Kristin and Angie for nearly ten years. 

When they moved to Oakland, Iowa, Betty started to work outside the home as a CNA at the Oakland Manor nursing home until retirement, and at the same time Dula stopped farming and started working for the Iowa Department of Transportation until he retired. In retirement, Betty and Dula traveled around the United States visiting family and friends and sight-seeing the areas of New England, California and Branson, Missouri. 

Betty was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and the Lewis United Congregational Methodist Church. She enjoyed spending time in the kitchen cooking and baking. Family favorites were her potato salad and her children always got excited when they arrived home after school to fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies waiting for them.

Survivors include her children: Marvin (Melinda) Thompson of Oakland, Iowa, Lanette Crone of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Ken (Kathy) Thompson of Lincoln, Nebraska; 12 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren; 9 great-great-grandchildren, sister-in-law, Evalene Eskridge; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dula Thompson; son, Bill Thompson; grandson, Erick Pultz; son-in-law, Rick Crone; parents, Bill and Elsie Bode; parents-in-law, Effie Thompson and Josiah Thompson; and sisters, Arlene Jahnke and Maxine (Gayle) Dolch.

Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m., Monday, October 7th at the Lewis United Congregational Methodist Church followed by a Funeral Service at 11:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Oakwood Cemetery in Lewis.

Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation to the Multiple Myeloma Foundation in honor of Betty’s late son, Bill.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Betty’s family and her arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.