Betty M. Thompson

Betty was born in Upper Penns Neck, NJ to Lewis and Rita Mangini. She was the second oldest of three children and lived most of her early life in Penns Grove, NJ, a small town across the Delaware River from Wilmington, DE. 

After graduating from high school, she attended business college to learn stenography and bookkeeping and went to work. She met her husband, Gordon Thompson, at a USO dance during the Korean War. Gordon was an ordinance instructor at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. Despite their diverse backgrounds – Betty, from an East Coast Italian family and Gordon, from southern Oklahoma roots -- they embraced their differences, found common ground and were married on May 2, 1953.

Betty was Gordon’s co-pilot for 70 years. She relocated 5 times for his career at DuPont. She ran the house, raised their daughters, paid the bills, and supported all of Gordon’s efforts, including building several carwashes and owning rental properties. She put her bookkeeping skills to good use in their businesses and by taking part time work at G & O Electric and the Clinton Pallett Company in Clinton, IA. She saved her earnings for their daughters’ college tuition and vacations.

Betty was a strong advocate and loving mother to Carol and Beth. She always had a listening ear and kind words of encouragement and support. The girls grew up thinking they could be whatever they wanted to be and felt loved every day of their lives. 

Betty and Gordon had family pets for nearly 60 years. Betty loved all animals and devoted 25 years to animal rescue through the Humane Society in Grove, OK. Many times, she and Gordon would care for abandoned puppies and kittens until they were old enough to be adopted out. There were quite a few little ones that she couldn’t part with, though, and at one point they had 5 cats and a dog – each one loved for all of their days. Carol and Beth each ended up with at least one kitten from Mom’s rescues, too. She did that work until she was about 90 years old. 

Flowers, plants and gardens brought Betty a lot of joy. In Oklahoma, she was always on the lookout for a new African Violet or plant to add to her collection of greenery in her kitchen. Sometimes she’d find a really good deal on a ragged little plant at Lowes and turn it into a real beauty. She loved that.

Her plants from home made the move to memory care and they thrived in their new environment. The large window in her room faced a beautiful courtyard and allowed for tons of sunshine and new leaves often appeared. She loved to take a stroll in the courtyard and admire the colorful planters, trees and perennials and watch the birds twittering around and airplanes passing overhead.

Betty was most content when sitting with Gordon on the front porch of their home in Oklahoma watching the world go by. It was THE PLACE to listen to the bird song in the morning, visit with their favorite next-door neighbors, wave at the passersby, and to watch the sun go down in the evening. This was what she missed the most after losing her husband in 2023. We hope that she’s sitting with Gordon now on the porch in her new Heavenly home.

Betty is survived by her daughters: Carol Thompson and Beth Olson; son-in-law: Tom Olson; grandsons: Nicholas (Jess) Olson, and Nathan (Ariel) Olson; granddaughters: Heather Christensen and Paula (David) Lawhead; great-grandchildren: Kyle (Meghan) Christensen, Aspen Lawhead, Pika McCullough, Elijah Lawhead, and Sloane Olson; great-great-grandsons: Oliver, John and Casen Christensen; as well as sister-in-law: Lathelle Dale; brother-in-law: Glennis Thompson; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would to like express their sincere gratitude to Betty’s memory care team at Ovation Heartwood Preserve for the friendship, laughter, care and comfort they provided Betty these past 10 months. She had her favorites and we hope they know how special they were to her.

= = = = =

There will be a Memorial Service: 1:00 PM Friday (10/11/2024) at Lord of Love Lutheran Church 10405 Fort St. Omaha, NE, with a reception immediately following service.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Nebraska Humane Society, St. Jude’s’s Children’s Hospital or a charity of your choice is suggested.

= = = = =

Roeder Mortuary, Inc. - 108th Street Chapel - 2727 N 108th St - Omaha, NE - 402-496-9000

www.RoederMortuary.com