Lester L. Thompson, 89, of Gering, Nebraska, passed away Sunday, May 29, 2022, at Western Nebraska Veterans Home in Scottsbluff. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 11, 2022, at Central Church of Christ in Gering with Pastor Wes Thompson officiating. Inurnment will follow at West Lawn Cemetery in Gering. The Nebraska Army National Guard and Gering American Legion Post 36 will provide military honors. Cremation has taken place. The service will be livestreamed and recorded to Lester’s obituary page viewable at www.reverencefuneralparlor.com. Memorials may be made to Central Church of Christ Missionary Support.
Lester was born February 23, 1933, to Leonard A. and Mary E. (Emerson) Thompson in Morrill. He was baptized on December 8, 1948.
Lester married Gloria E. Rhoads at Torrington, Wyoming on November 7, 1955. They joined the Central Church of Christ in Gering, where he was an Elder, taught Sunday School, sang in the choir and enjoyed clearing the parking lot of snow with his tractor. The church honored him for having cleared the lot for thirty years.
Lester worked for George Johnson near Lyman until 1960 when he went to work at Gering for Cleo Gering. He also worked at Great Western Sugar in the mechanic department. He eventually started farming on his own, buying Mr. Gering’s machinery and cattle. It was 1968 when he bought Pansy Gering’s homeplace and farmland, where he farmed until he retired in 2013.
Lester joined the Chuck Wagon fastpitch softball team after moving to Gering and was a pitcher until after 50 years of age. He loved sports and enjoyed watching ballgames on TV.
Lester and Gloria welcomed a daughter, Tamye Lyn, to their family in 1962 and in 1967, Clint Jay, came to join them. They “adopted with love” Wyatt Kramer into their family in 1986.
Survivors include his wife, Gloria; children, Clint (Dianna) Thompson of Lincoln, Tamye Matthies of Norfolk and Wyatt (Kimi) Kramer of McGrew; brother, Farish (Sue) Thompson of Thayne, WY; sister-in-law, Ethelyn Thompson of Kearney; nine grandchildren, Laurie (James) Scanlon of Lincoln, John (Destiny) Matthies of Norfolk, Stephanie (Ben) Sukup of Norfolk, Cristofer (Anna) Thompson of Gering, Cody (Kenzie) Thompson of Gering, Josie (Nick Setter) Thompson of Lakewood, CO, Becky (Sam) Archbold of Scottsbluff, and Cole Kramer and Brooke Kramer of McGrew; 22 great-grandchildren, Donavyn and Kylie Kirby, Daya, Syah and Ambree Scanlon, Brooklynd, Kayden, Lakkin, Paxten, and Aspen Matthies, Paityn Anderson, Kalub, Allie, Devyn, and Benson Sukup, Tait, Trizdin and Traceton Thompson, and Jocelyn, Paris, Xavier and AJ Martinez; along with many nieces and nephews.
Lester was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Sharon Gilmore and Patricia Stone; brothers, E. Burdette, Leonard L. and Denton Thompson; brother and sister-in-law, Darrell and Donna Thompson; sisters and brothers-in-law, Idell and Floyd Bower and Isma and Robert Nab; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Orma “Dusty” and Frances (Horky) Rhoads; and many aunts and uncles whom he loved.
