Mildred L. Thompson

July 19, 1927 – January 1, 2019

Mildred Louise (Witt) Thompson, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Mildred (Millie), passed from this life on January 1, 2019, in Bakersfield, California.

Millie was married to the Love of her life, Gerald L. Thompson (Jerry), who preceded her in death February 26, 2013. Millie & Jerry were married 64 years until Jerry’s passing. Millie was mother to four loving children, eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Her children are: Thomas (Eileen); Michael (Caryl); Jerilee Peterson and Patrick (Karen). She loved being grandmother to: Matthew; Marcus (Audra); Erin Curlett (Cpt. Tim Curlett, U.S. Army); Garrett Thompson; Austin Peterson; Kelly Peterson (Sarah); Sean Thompson; and, Laurel Thompson. Great grandmother of Kacey, Caleb, Peyton, Kiley and Lincoln Thompson, and Jacob and Henry Curlett.

Born July 19, 1927, in Columbus, Montana, to Louise (Boog) & Adolph Witt, Millie was the youngest of four children. Her brothers Robert, Clyde and Paul, preceding her in death, all adored her. A 1945 graduate of Columbus High School, Millie enjoyed band and being a majorette. Millie began studies at the Sisters of Charity School of Nursing, St. Vincent unit in Billings, Montana the fall of 1945, graduating in 1948 as a Registered Nurse; a profession shared-in-common with her mother. Millie worked in Columbus, Montana at Stillwater Community Hospital, until she met Jerry in the summer of 1948. Millie married Jerry November 27, 1948 only 3 months after they met. Millie worked as a nurse while Jerry attended the University of Wyoming. Following Jerry’s graduation, she became a homemaker and mother of their children, but maintained her Registered Nursing license in three States, including California, until 1975.

During Jerry’s early career as a traveling oilfield engineer, Millie sometimes cared solely for their children 3 to 5 days at a time. Oil meant moving often and, with their four small children, Millie made a home wherever their new adventure took them. Always the optimist, she rolled up her sleeves and got involved with the local Catholic church, her children’s schools, their sports and projects. Millie, Jerry and their young family made a wonderful life in Montana, Texas, Louisiana, Illinois, Oklahoma, Colorado and California.

In retirement Millie and Jerry enjoyed spending time with friends, were active in their Parish, fed the poor and participated in a prison ministry. In quieter moments, they enjoyed the Topa Topa “pink moment” mountain sunsets from their deck at their home in Ojai, CA; and, looked forward to visits with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In 2007, Jerry and Millie relocated back to Bakersfield where son Patrick and family, along with many friends, reside. Millie moved in with Patrick and daughter-in-law Karen upon Jerry’s passing in 2013. Millie enjoyed a quiet life with Pat, Karen and all the fur babies. Millie was a loyal, loving wife; an outstanding mother/grandmother; and, a devoted friend to all who knew and loved her. Throughout her life, Millie shared a happy, spirited and positive attitude, together with a wry sense of humor and smiles for everyone she met. Millie’s life was a life well lived! She will be greatly missed. Rest in eternal peace, with God's blessing: Millie, Mom, Momma, Grammy Okie Dokie, Grandma T. WLYM.

A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at 10:30am in Denver, Colorado, at the Chapel of the Little Sisters of the Poor. A gravesite memorial interment will follow on Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 10:30am in Bakersfield, CA at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 9101 Kern Canyon Road. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a local homeless charity of your choice; the Little Sisters of the Poor, Denver, CO; and/or, the Bakersfield Homeless Center.