Lee M. Thompson

Lee M. Thompson was born on February 19, 1935, to Harry Clifford and Pearl Gladys Thompson at their homestead in the Walks Camp Park community north of Genoa,Colorado. The oldest son and third child in a strong Norwegian family, Lee grew up surrounded by traditions he carried with him throughout his life. He enjoyed lefse (but not lutefisk) and often used the expression “Uff-Da,” a phrase that could mean just about anything depending on the moment.

Lee attended a one-room schoolhouse in his early years not far from the family home. In 1948, the family purchased a home in town and Lee started school in Limon. He entered seventh grade at age 13. Lee was active in sports, playing four years of football and one year of basketball, and was a proud four-year “L” Club member. During his junior and senior year, he served as Class Vice President and Letterman’s Club Vice President. He graduated from Limon High School in 1954.  During these years, he formed lifelong friendships with a close-knit group of friends, known fortheir humor and memorable antics.

As a young man, Lee worked alongside his brothers, Harry and Allen, on the family farm. He especially enjoyed tinkering with machinery and building things from scrap parts. From an early age, he loved driving John Deere tractors, and he later restored his first tractor and put it in the basement of his home which remained a treasured possession he would occasionally “crank up” just to hear it run.

Lee married Phyllis Menge in June 1955. In August 1956, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and completed basic training at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. He served with the 21st Signal Company, and later transferred to Fort Sheridan, Illinois, where he served for 3 months as a medic. He was then sent to Camp Darby in Livorno, Italy, where he worked in the radio station. During his service, his daughter Teresa was born in March 1956, and Phyllis and Teresa joined him in Italy in June, where they spent the remainder of his service. Lee and Phyllis enjoyed traveling throughout Europe during this time. He was honorably discharged in 1957 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal. He also formed lifelong friendships with fellow servicemen.

After returning home in 1957, Lee and Phyllis began building their life on the family homestead north of Genoa. In 1964, they purchased the “Schoonover place” and lived in a small trailer before welcoming their son, Troy in March. They later purchased the Lundy property, where they built their permanent home in 1975 and resided for the rest of their years.

In 1960, Lee and his brother Harry established Thompson Brothers, a farming and ranching operation that grew into a successful and enduring business. Over the years, they pursued many business and agricultural ventures. Later, in 1984, his son Troy joined the operation, helping continue the family legacy on the original homestead.

Lee and Phyllis shared a love of travel and adventure. Lee enjoyed riding motorcycles and flying, and after purchasing an airplane in the mid 1960s, the family often took off for weekend trips. Following a heart attack in 1985, they sold the plane and began traveling by motorhome instead. Together, they explored much of the United States, forming lasting friendships along the way through the Winnebago RV Club and Good Sam Club.

Lee never met a stranger. Wherever he went, he made friends—often returning home with stories, laughter, and new connections. He loved entertaining, usually with a glass of whiskey in hand and a good story to tell.  He took great pride in his family and especially enjoyed supporting his four grandchildren in their activities and sporting events. He and Phyllis traveled many miles to watch their granddaughters Erin and Kylee play college basketball. He cherished watching all of his grandchildren grow and build their own lives.  Lee also treasured family trips, especially the tradition of traveling together every other Christmas. Known for his spontaneity, he would often set off on unexpected adventures and come back with a plan. Usually this plan meant a tour with a guy and a van into the jungle or back country. This plan would always leave everyone wondering what would happen next—but always resulted in unforgettable memories.

His grandchildren continue to cherish his humor, stories, and “Grandpa-isms.”  In later years, Lee often reflected on outliving all but one of his classmates, all of his siblings, and army friends, sometimes joking that he might live to be 150.

Lee is survived by his daughter, Teresa O’Dwyer (Bart), and his son, Troy Thompson (Casey); his beloved grandchildren, Erin Mellott (Paul), Kylee Samuels (Tristan), Megan Smith (Tyler), and Tucker Thompson; and eight great-grandchildren: Brandon, Karson, Keagan, Kinlee Mellott; Sophie and Cooper Smith; and Bodhi and Finn Samuels. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Carolyn Cain and Pat Thompson, as well as many nieces, nephews, and dear friends from his years of travel.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis; his parents Clifford and Pearl; his siblings, Barbara (Alan), Anita (Bob), Harry (Shirley), Donna, and Allen; his in-laws, Marie and Phillip Menge; and his brother-in-law, Harold Menge (Mary Ann).

Memorial donations may be made to Walks Camp Park Association ℅ Teresa O’Dwyer 59495 State Road 71 Limon, CO 80828 or the Walks Camp Lutheran Church ℅ Kim Korsvold 53898 State Road 71 Limon, CO 80828