Mabel E. Thompson

PETERSON, MINN. - Mabel Evelyn (Johnson) Thompson died on Tuesday, September 18, 2007, at Lake Winona Manor in Winona, Minn. Mabel was born on September 20, 1914, in Fillmore County, Minn. to Rasmus and Olga (Glenna) Johnson. She attended the Highland school and graduated from Lanesboro High School in 1932. Mabel attended Preston Normal School and then Winona State Teacher's College. She taught in rural schools and continued at Winona State until she earned her degree. On January 12, 1935, she married Walter Thompson. They farmed near Peterson and she taught elementary school in Peterson. She also taught Sunday school and sang in the church choir. They moved to Rochester where she continued to teach. She was a member of the M.E.A. and the R.E.A. After her husband's death in July of 1993, she moved back to Peterson. She enjoyed working with flowers and being with her family. Mabel moved to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford in February of 2006, and has resided there since. She is survived by two sons: Walter (Darlene) of Winona, and Maynard (Sandy) of Peterson; six grandchildren: Rosalie (Robert) Mathers of Oshkosh, Wis., Erik (Mari) of Winona, Kirk of Plainview, Jeff (Barbara) of Peterson, Brad (Kim) of Rushford, and Brian (Jenny) of Peterson; four step-grandchildren: Chris Kern of Grand Meadow, Carrie (Martin) Phillips of Austin, Tex., Paul Kern of Denver, Col., and Pamela Emmons of Plainview; six great-grandschildren: Derek, Kirstin, and David Mathers, Kayla, Olivia, and Noah Thompson; five step-great-grandchildren: Andrew, Sara, and Haylee Jeske, and Madison and Mackenzie Phillips; and three special nieces: Nina Austin, DeLaine Johnson, and Darlene Kryzer. She was preceded in death by her husband, five sisters, and four brothers. Memorials are preferred to Grace Lutheran Church in Peterson. The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 22, 2007, at Grace Lutheran Church in Peterson with the Revs. Ronald and Janet Warnes officiating. Burial will be in the Highland Prairie Lutheran Cemetery in rural Peterson. Friends may call from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday at Hoff Funeral Homes - Rushford Chapel and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Please feel free to sign the guestbook and leave a memory of Mabel at www.hofffuneral.com