Edna Lillian Thompson

Edna Lillian Thompson was born January 9, 1914 to Arthur and Alma (Pederson) Bell in Hayti, South Dakota. She passed away June 2, 2014 at San Jacinto Healthcare, Hemet, CA where she had been living since 2008.

While growing up, Edna and her family were musicians; the family played music for church, school, and social events around the county. When Edna was six years old, she played piano and sang with her brother, John, on violin for the Christmas program. Edna graduated from Hayti High School then from the Schuyler Beauty School as a hair dresser in Sioux Falls, SD and later from Dale Carnegie. She taught at the Beauty School for 2 years before starting her own Beauty Shop in Hayti, SD. While a resident there, she was County Chair for the March of Dimes, active in the Red Cross, Republican Party and a member of the Lutheran church where she was the backup organist. Edna was one of the organists who played the chimes at the dedication ceremonies for the Campanile at Brookings State University, SD. She was married to Melvin H. Thompson of Estelline, SD on February 20, 1938. After marriage in Estelline, she operated a Beauty Shop there for several years and was active in the church choir and various singing groups. In 1950, she and Melvin moved to Rapid City, SD, in the Black Hills, where she helped as cashier and book keeper at their gas Service Station; later they entered into real estate development near the Ellsworth Air Force Base in SD. They lived in nearby Rapid City for 27 years although they spent many winters in California and moved there permanently in 1976 to Rancho California, CA. They moved to San Jacinto, Ca, in 1984 and enjoyed retirement to the fullest; and traveling in their motor homes to Upper Michigan to visit family across the states and daughter Connie for 32 summers. Edna loved to watch sports on TV and was a great LA Laker fan. She was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hemet, CA and volunteered for years as organizer for the greeters at the early service and the after service brunch.

Edna is survived by her son Craig of San Diego and daughter Connie (Larry) Julien of Chassell, Mi. Grandchildren Robin Livingston of Menifee, CA; Rene McCarthy of San Diego, Ca; Jason (Tara) Julien of Clinton, Iowa; and Jonathan Julien of Houghton, Mi. Great grandchildren, Nicole, Joshua, Breann, Chelsea, Blake, Lex and Vienna. Great-great-grandchildren Kyle, Collin, Cayden, Kohen, Arianna, and Remidy Lillian and loved daughters-in-law Rosalie Giroux and Vicki Higgins.

She was preceded in death by her husband Melvin in 1994, her parents, brothers John and Chester Bell and infant brother Thomas Bell.