Richard "Dick" Thompson was born to Elmer and Irene Thompson on Sept. 4, 1936.
He was raised in Friend and attended the Friend school system, graduating in 1954. Shortly after high school, he and Roger Johanson, ventured to Wichita, Kansas, to work for Boeing Airlines. He also worked at a Safeway grocery store. There he met Carol Holcomb, and not long after that, they were married. They had their first son, Rick, while in Wichita in 1959. After they returned to Friend, they had three more children, Kenneth "Scott", Nancy and Darren. They returned to Friend in late 1960 to take over the Friend Cold Storage from Joe Deterding and renamed it, "Thompson's Locker."
Dick served as the town butcher for nearly 40 years before he retired. He went back to work at Farmland for 11 years before retiring a second time. For many years, he participated in the school co-op program. High school students were given jobs working at the butcher shop, where they learned work ethic, responsibility and friendship. Many came back over the years to visit and check in with Dick.
Dick was very involved in the community. He served as a volunteer with The Friend Fire Department starting in 1961. He was the Vice President of the Fire Department from 1974 to 1980 and President from 1980 to 1997. He took classes to become an EMT and became a member of the Rescue Squad. He was involved in the Fire Prevention week and enjoyed taking the fire trucks to the school for kids to explore.
Dick was a generous supporter of youth sports. He enjoyed attending many of Friend's sporting events and would often travel to far away games to cheer on the Bulldogs. He supported Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and helped with many campouts over the years. Dick and Carol joined the Friend Congregational church and were active members. Dick served as liturgist over the years. He was always willing to lend a hand to those in need, not for fame or glory, but because it was the right thing to do. He was a regular blood donor and had given many gallons of blood in his lifetime.
All three of their boys served in the military and during that time, Dick and Carol were able to travel to Alaska, Guam, Germany, and Italy.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Thompson; his sister, Darlene Wilson; children, Rick Thompson, Kenneth "Scott" (Melanie) Thompson, Nancy (Dean) Wetzel and Darren (Julia) Thompson; grandchildren, Derek (Bradli) Thompson, Elizabeth Thompson, Rylie (Wyatt) Klinski, Victor Thompson, Max (Tali) Wetzel and Sam (Mirela) Wetzel; and great-grandchildren, Josie, Ottilie, Vera, and Tomi Klinski.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer Thompson and Irene and Franklin Eurich; his brother, David Thompson; grandson, Caleb Thompson; and daughter-in-law, Melissa Thompson. T
Visitation will be Friday, June 19, from 1-8 p.m. at the Lauber Funeral Home in Friend with family greeting and receiving friends from 6 – 7 p.m. The funeral service will be Saturday, June 20, at 10:30 a.m. at the Friend Congregational Church with a luncheon to follow. Richard will be laid to rest at the Andrew Cemetery after the luncheon concludes.
Arrangements by Lauber Funeral and Cremation Services in Friend
