Irene F. Thompson — Lewiston

Irene F. Thompson, 95, of Lewiston, died Wednesday morning, July 3, 2013, at Speltz Estates in Lewiston.

She was born to Ernest and Carrie (Koster) Luehmann on July 9, 1917, in Winona County. Irene and Alvin Thompson were married Sept. 8, 1954, at Lewiston, and farmed west of town for many years. Alvin died in 1986 and Irene moved in to Lewiston in 1988.

Irene was an active member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church and was involved in the Dorcas Society. She loved growing flowers and gardening. A love she shared with her friends in the Flower Society. She was a hard working farm wife, working side by side with her husband and family. They raised chickens, geese, ducks, sheep, cattle and hogs. She helped with baling hay and hauling in the loads of grain and corn. She enjoyed the farm life.

She is survived by two daughters, Ruth Thompson and husband, Roger Swansen of West Plains, Mo., and Mary Oelkers (Roger Oelkers) of Hastings; three granddaughters, Raenell Oelkers of Stewartville, Jennifer Oelkers of Zumbrota, and Kelli Oelkers of Zumbrota; three great-grandchildren; one niece Cynthia (David) Hokenson of Preston.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin, a brother and an infant son. Irene's message to her family is "Don't give up your Christian faith. My faith helped me through so much…"

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 7, at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lewiston, with the Revs. Michael A. Lindemann and M. John Derme officiating. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery.

Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 6, at Hoff Funeral Service in Lewiston. They may also call one hour before services at the church on Sunday.

Please share a memory of Irene at her on-line guestbook and view her Tribute Video when it becomes available at hofffuneral.com .