Sandra Jean (Brown) Thompson, 80, died August 26, 2018 at the Graham County Hospital in Hill City, Kansas. She was born April 25, 1938 to Oscar and Alberta (Elliott) Brown in Bogue, Kansas.

She was born at the couple’s home, a home that Sandy would continue to grow up in and later live with her own family.
Sandy went on her first date with her future husband when he was in third grade and she was a first grader. His parents took them to Stockton to the movies and then for ice cream. Then on June 17, 1956, a month after Sandy’s graduation, she was united in marriage to James “Jamie” Thompson in the Bogue Community United Methodist Church. They made their home in Everett, Washington while Jamie was stationed at Paine Air Force Base. While Jamie served a tour of duty at Ladd AFB, Fairbanks, Alaska, she lived with her parents in Hill City. Following Jamie’s discharge, they moved to Denver, Colorado to attend school at Parks Business College. Sandy worked as a legal secretary while Jamie completed his course in Higher Accounting and Business Administration. In the fall of 1960, they move home to Bogue where Jamie began employment with the Farmers State Bank.

Sandra then began her fulltime career as homemaker and mother to first Tim and later Tammy and Toby. The children all agree, she was the best mom anyone could ever hope for. To say the least, she was organized and consistent and had a schedule for everything. Even though they probably didn’t always appreciate or even realize it until much later; but because of this, she provided them with a completely worry-free childhood. The house was meticulously clean, laundry always caught up and a hot meal on the table three times a day. They do not ever remember her being sick or even the least bit grouchy. In fact, she did all with joy, always humming, always smiling. Even in the end, when things got rough, she never complained. She just kept going as long as she could. The last night she was home, even as she struggled to get to the table for dinner, she was still humming!

After the children were grown she was employed by Farmers State Bank, which later became the Stockton National Bank. She continued this employment until she retired in 2000. She was active in her church, TPM Club, United Methodist Women, and Builders Class, Ladies Coffee Group, which was a highlight of every day, Second Chances, and wrote the Bogue News for the Hill City Times.

Sandy was a marvelous cook and shared this talent with friends and family. Sunday dinners were a favorite time for family. No matter who could be there, she would have dinner on the table and there was always enough no matter if extras dropped in. She also enjoyed having extended family gatherings. She organized many Thompson reunions, both on Memorial and Labor Day weekends as well as hosting Thanksgiving dinners each year. She especially enjoyed the Gustafson Oyster supper at Christmas.

As busy as she was, Sandy still had time for things she loved. Her grandchildren’s events, whether it was a ballgame, music concert, art show, or horse show, she was always eager to attend. Sandy was always up for a game of dominoes. She especially enjoyed getting together with her cousins for an afternoon of eating, sharing and playing. She tried many times to get her family to play with her, but she always won, so most were hesitant. Her flower gardens were very important to her. She knew the names of hundreds of flowers and enjoyed planting and tending them. Sandy was a shopper, spending an entire day looking at everything. She rarely bought unless she had a coupon or there was sale; or even better, finding a great bargain at a garage sale. On almost every outing, she found someone she knew and would stop and visit, always with a smile; never in a hurry to move on. The last few years, she enjoyed having visitors, but you needed to make sure you didn’t arrive during Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune or you could only visit during commercials!

She was preceded in death by her parents: Oscar and “Bertie”; sister-in-law, Janice Booi; nephew Brock Booi; and in-laws Rex and Marie Thompson.

Leaving to mourn her passing are her husband of 62 years; her sister, Carolyn Erickson of Denver, Colorado; her children: Tim Thompson and wife Karen of Bogue, Tammy and husband Greg Tang of Kansas City, Missouri; Toby Thompson of Hill City; nine grandchildren, three-step grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.

Sandra has left this world, but all of us here today are much better people because we knew her. Let her legacy of joy and love live on in us.

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