Donnis C. Thompson, 88, of Mabel, died Tuesday, October 25th, 2022 at Green Lea Senior Living in Mabel.
Donnis was born September 2, 1934 on her grandparent’s farm in Amherst Township in Fillmore County, Minnesota to Ralph and Evelyn (Pederson) Gleisner. As Donnis was growing up, the family lived in the Plainview, Spring Valley, and Harmony areas. She graduated from the Harmony High School in 1952 and attended the Kahler School of Nursing. Donnis married Donald Thompson on September 4, 1953 at the Greenfield Lutheran Church. They lived in Minneapolis for a short time where she worked in the record office at the U of M Hospital. They then moved to the Mabel area where Donnis helped Donald farm for over 35 years. In 1978 they moved into Mabel. Donnis had managed the Shoe String Shoe Store in Mabel for 14 years which was the last shoe store in Fillmore County.
Donnis had been a leader for the Mabel Girl Scouts and was on the River Trails Girl Scout Council committee responsible for building the Whispering Hills Girl Scout Camp. Donnis won the contest naming the camp. She was a member of the Scheie Lutheran Church and Naomi Circle, Mabel Legion Auxiliary, and enjoyed her grandchildren, knitting, and travelling where she had been to 12 foreign countries, 44 states, and 3 World’s Fairs.
Donnis is survived by her daughter Robin (Craig) Arneson of Lakeville, Minnesota; two grandchildren Christopher (Jessica) Arneson of Elko New Market, and Jenifer (Jason Warner) Arneson of Lakeville; three great grandchildren Morgan (Bayleigh Buss) Spencer of Savage, Alexa Arneson of Lakeville, and William Arneson of Elko New Market; three sisters LeEtta (Rollie) Oelschlager of Puyallup, WA, Dwaylla (Harlan) Schmidt of Wykoff, Lantha (Joe) Stevens of Harmony; three sisters-in-law Diana Eickhoff of Fountain, Patti Snell of Mabel, Sharon (Bob) Pederson of Mabel; two brothers-in-law Steve Thompson of Dodge Center, Rodney (Carol) Thompson of Mabel; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; parents, Ralph and Evelyn Gleisner; parents-in-law Larney and Eldora Thompson; sisters-in-law Carmona Sauer, Eloise Bergey, Marjorie Nordhorn; and brothers-in-law Eldon Thompson, Paul Thompson, and Richard Thompson.
A memorial service will be 12 noon, Thursday, November 10, 2022 at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel. Burial will be at a later date in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Visitation will be on hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Mabel Public Library or the Scheie WELCA.
|
