Ann Thompson
Anna August "Ann" Thompson, 93, of Goldendale, died at her home June 24, 2009.
She was born Sept. 7, 1915, in Denzil Saskatchewan, the daughter of Wilhelmina "Minni" Eilers and Josef Engelbert Taphorn. Ann lived on the family farm outside Denzil until 1935/36, when her widowed mother and seven siblings moved east to the Eilers homestead near St. Gregor, Saskatchewan.
Ann came to Goldendale in winter 1936 to work for her relatives, Joe and Dora Kloker. She met David R. Thompson in 1937 and they were married that December in Vancouver, British Columbia. Until 1941, the couple lived on the Guy Thompson farm above Goodnoe Hills, recently owned by Bob Imrie, and then moved to the family farm of E. Clay Thompson. Dave and Ann lived there until 1961, when he retired and they sold the farm to Charles and Loretta Hoctor.
Ann was very active in community organizations and activities. She was a member of the United Methodist church, Goldendale Grange, Rebekah and Eastern Star Lodges, Ladies Encampment Auxiliary, Federated Women's Club, PTA and Gleaners. She was a 4-H leader, worked on the election board and volunteered at the Goldendale Senior Center and the Red Cross Blood Bank. Ann boasted a bit about the hundreds of pies she cut over the years for the Grange at the Cleveland Pioneer Picnic. She was proud to have been named Homemaker of the Year in 1987 and was honored to be named among "Over 100 Distinguished Citizens of Klickitat County" in 1989.
Ann worked 23 years as a cook at Goldendale's nursing home, Simcoe Manor, where residents welcomed her homemade cream puffs and rolls, as well as other treats, "made from scratch." She enjoyed many arts and crafts, excelled in sewing, crocheting and quilting, made ribbon roses, and experimented with oil painting, sketching, ceramics and leatherwork.
Her parents, eight brothers and sisters, including Loretta Hoctor, of Goldendale, and her only son, Harvey, preceded her in death.
Survivors include her daughter, Inez Freeman; two grandchildren, Kristin and Ken Freeman and Ken's wife, Donna Kentley; two great-granddaughters, Emma and Grace Pitts; her youngest sister, Inez Kuemper, of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be given to the Goldendale United Methodist church or the American Cancer Society.
