Nancy Thompson

Nancy Thompson, 93, Rosholt, SD, passed away Thursday, July 17, 2014, at the Northeast Care and Rehabilitation Center in Rosholt.

Funeral Mass was Monday, July 21, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church in Rosholt with Father Jerome Ranek officiating. Music was provided by organist Lana Sand and vocalists Bill and Fran Clark, Denise Allman, Brenda and Lori Long, Debbie Baus, and Jerry Roerig.

Burial was in the Plains of Memory Cemetery, rural New Effington, SD. Honorary pallbearers were Allen Thompson, Frank Cuffe, Keith Behrends, Gary Peterson, Jerry Hanratty and Roger Kluck. Active pallbearers were her grandsons, Eric Behrends, Phillip Behrends, Jason Behrends, Todd Thompson, Justin Thompson, Jared Thompson, Chad Hanratty, Brent Hanratty, Brian Hanratty and Greg Peterson.

Visitation was Sunday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Eggers Funeral Home in Rosholt. There was a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the church. Visitation  continued Monday one hour prior to the service at the church.

Nancy Ann Irene was born July 11, 1921, on the family farm in rural New Effington, to Henry and Mary Frances (Sexton) Cuffe. The oldest of twelve children, Nancy attended rural school at Hart #2 and high school in Sisseton. She graduated from St. Mary's Academy in Graceville, MN. She then attended Teacher's College in Aberdeen, earning her certificate in six weeks.

Nancy met Phillip (Spark) Allen Thompson at a dance at the White Eagle in New Effington. On March 5, 1945, they married at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Sisseton. After their marriage, Nancy began teaching in rural New Effington. In January 1957, Phillip passed away. Nancy moved to Rosholt and supported her five children by teaching school in Rosholt. She attended summer school in Aberdeen, finally earning her bachelor's degree in education when she was in her 50s. She set up the Special Education program in Rosholt and was one of the first teachers to use a computer. Nancy considered "fighting the computer" as one of her hobbies and even had her own Facebook page. She retired from teaching in 1988. In 2010, Nancy made her home in the Countryside Inn, where she was an original member of the Ding-a-Lings bell ringers. She moved to the Rosholt Care Center in November 2013.

In her 60s, Nancy learned to paint and has produced over 300 paintings. Other hobbies included crocheting, handiwork, and doing string art, crafts, and art projects. She enjoyed playing cards and doing jigsaw puzzles. Nancy also loved getting together with her former teaching friends every summer.

Survivors include four children, Allen Thompson of Rosholt, Agnes (Keith) Behrends of Amarillo, TX, Ann (Jerry) Hanratty of Ortonville, MN, and Alane (Gary) Peterson of Rosholt; 20 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Thompson of North Fort Meyers, FL, and Rosaland Allen of Robbins, GA; a brother, Frank (Josie) Cuffe of Chester, VA; and many nieces and nephews.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Phillip; daughter, Alice Kluck; two infant sons; brothers, Bill, Pat, Jack, Tom, and Michael; and sisters, Agnes Roerig, Lea Dansey, and Margaret Long.