Dorothy Lou Thompson, age 88, of Brookings, passed away, Monday, June 26, 2017. Memorial services will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, July 1, 2017, at First United Methodist Church in Brookings. Interment of cremated remains will be in the Arlington City Cemetery, Arlington, SD.   Visitations will be 5-7 P.M. Friday, June 30, 2017, at Eidsness Funeral Home.

Dorothy was born on July 7, 1928, to Harold and Emma (Gebhart) Jensen in Arlington, South Dakota.  She grew up in Arlington and graduated from Arlington High School in 1947.  Dorothy then attended General Beadle State College in Madison where she received a Teacher Certificate.  After finishing her education, Dorothy worked as a rural school teacher for three years in both Kingsbury and Brookings Counties.  On August 19, 1949, she was united in marriage to John E. Thompson in Worthington, Minnesota.

Dorothy enjoyed being active in several clubs and organizations throughout her life including the League of Women Voters, Faculty Wives, 49ers Extension Club, and P.E.O. Chapter P.

Dorothy had a passion for taking care of the abundant flowers and vegetables in her gardens, having inherited a green thumb from her mother.  She enjoyed many hobbies in her free time such as painting, sewing, crocheting, and ceramics.  Some of Dorothy and John's treasured activities together were dance club, playing bridge, attending SDSU basketball games and theatre productions, and travelling on bus tours through the Midwest or organized trips abroad.  As a stay at home housewife and mother, Dorothy was always quick to prepare meals using the hunting and fishing fare that John provided.  Sons John and Mark still believe that Dorothy cooked the best Roast Duck with Acorn Squash.

Dorothy is survived by her children: Jane (Joseph) Manning of Florence, AZ, John (Melody) Thompson, of Billings, MT, and Mark (Lynne) Thompson, of Brookings, SD; 9 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.   She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, John Thompson, sister Betty Espenan, and brother, Curtis Jensen.