Laberta Ardell "Hamilton" Thompson

Laberta Ardell Hamilton was born on April 30, 1929, in Lewiston, Idaho, to Rosetta and Jamie Hamilton. At the time of her birth, her parents were living in Gifford, Idaho, where her mother remained close to her own parents. She was the second of five children and very close with older sister Rosemary and younger sister Elizabeth (Betty). Two younger brothers passed away in childhood. When her grandfather died in January 1929, it brought many changes for the family.

Her father had grown up working on farms and, like many of his generation, was unable to continue school beyond about the 7th or 8th grade. During the years of the Great Depression, the family worked hard and made do with what they had. Laberta attended grade school in the area and remembered spending time with nearby cousins, including Norman and Donald Hamilton. The school was located on a hill near their home, and many childhood memories centered around walking to school and playing with relatives and neighborhood children.

She also remembered attending school in Winchester, Idaho, around 1936–1937. Winters brought heavy snow as high as picket fences, and children could often walk over the fences to get to school. During this time, both of her parents worked hard to support the family. Her mother also worked part-time in a grocery store.

Around 1940, the family moved to Lewiston, Idaho. Laberta attended school there, where her uncle Lester McCracken served as principal. The school was located downtown Lewiston. During those years she spent time with extended family, including her Aunt Bernadine, and cousins Darrel, Duane, and Billie McCracken, as well as Ellis Olsen.

In the spring of 1942, after the United States had entered World War II, the family moved again, this time to the Renton, Washington area. Her father worked hauling beer and later at a shipbuilding facility helping with the war effort. The family lived in a motel, and Laberta attended high school in Renton.

During high school she worked part-time. One of her first jobs was as a carhop at a drive-in restaurant, though she didn't enjoy it much because wartime rationing meant shortages of meat, sugar, and coffee, and customers often complained when hamburgers were unavailable. She later worked at a dime store, where she enjoyed helping customers and working with friends.

She remained lifelong friends with her high school friend Lynette, who later moved to Michigan, and they continued to keep in touch over the years by letters, phone calls, and Christmas cards.

Laberta graduated from high school in May 1947. Encouraged by her father to pursue something beyond teaching, she enrolled at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, graduating in 1951.

In the summer of 1949, her parents purchased a motel and service station on East Marginal Way in Seattle. The service station was leased for the summer to Richard and Fred Thompson, college students working a summer job.

It was there that Laberta met Richard, who was attending Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. The two began dating, though their dates were sometimes far apart while he was away at school. They stayed in touch through letters, and because his parents lived in Skyway, Washington, he was often traveling back and forth.

Laberta and Richard married on June 23, 1951. They moved to Payette Idaho in 1952 after Richard graduated and later to Burns Oregon in 1954 where they purchased the optometry practice. It was in Burns where they would live life together, raising their children: Mary Thompson Raines, Nancy Thompson Stangel, Michael Thompson and Patrick Thompson. They also had an infant son, David Thompson, who passed away shortly after birth. Laberta worked part time as a pharmacist and at the optometry office. She worked for Corbett Rexall, Home Drug and Safeway Pharmacy, making lifelong friends over 40 years prior to retirement.

Throughout her life, Laberta was active in her community. She participated in organizations including the Garden Club, Order of Eastern Star, Rainbow Girls, Girl Scouts, and Lake Creek Youth Camp. She enjoyed spending time outdoors with her husband, camping, fishing, bird hunting, and rock hounding.

Family travel was important to them. They took many trips with their children, showing them different parts of the country. After retirement, Laberta and Richard often traveled with their trailer and even spent a summer in Alaska. Later, they continued making memories with their children and grandchildren, including a houseboating trip in Canada and snowmobiling in Yellowstone.

Laberta deeply loved her home and friends in Harney County, Oregon. With help from others, she was able to remain in her home until December 2025, when she suffered a serious fall. While recovering, she suffered another fall and was unable to recover fully.

She passed away peacefully on March 6, 2026, in Sisters, Oregon.

Laberta was preceded in death by her parents James and Rosetta Hamilton, her husband Richard Thompson (2009), her infant son David, her son-in-law Dwane Raines, and her sisters Elizabeth (Betty) LeMay and Rosemary Newman.

She is survived by her children Mary Raines of Nampa Idaho, Nancy and Dick Stangel of Enterprise, Oregon, Michael Thompson of Spokane, Washington, and Pat and Heidi Thompson of Sisters, Oregon, as well as eight grandchildren, Travis, Brian, Krista, Taylor, Lucas, Danica, Kyle and Shelbi, plus seventeen great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 11:00 am March 14, 2026, at LaFollette Chapel in Burns, Oregon.

Donations may be made to the Harney County Senior Center.