John “Johnny” Thompson, age 90, passed away peacefully of natural causes on October 15, 2020.
Johnny was born on September 19, 1930 to John and Vivian Thompson in Basin, Montana, the oldest of three children. In 1941, Johnny’s parents moved him and his siblings, Anita and Norman, to live at the Mike Horse Mine outside of Lincoln, where he and his father had a trucking contract for the mine. After moving to Lincoln in 1954, he met the love of his life, Katie. Johnny and Katie were married on April 14, 1963 and together raised two children, Maria and Johnny (Jay). John and Katie moved the family to Nye, Montana in 1969 where John worked for the Anaconda Company. After three years, they moved back to Lincoln where they chose to stay and raise their family. Outside of growing their family contracting business, Johnny loved working in the shop on his Model A Ford, his pride and joy. The Model A made an appearance in the Lincoln 4th of July Parade for many years.
Johnny is preceded in death by his brother and sister and his wife Katie.
Johnny is survived by his children, Jay (Vicki) Thompson and Maria (Jeff) Eshelman; niece, Cindy (Chuck) Simenson; grandchildren, Jacob Eshelman (Dana), Sianna (Nathan) Rose, Jasper (Jessie) Eshelman, Jeffrey (Laura) Eshelman, Ryan Thompson, Johnniann Thompson, and Rayna Thompson; and great-grandchildren, Maggie Eshelman, Seth Rose, Levi Rose, and Ellie Rose; as well as many other nieces and nephews.
Johnny will be remembered for his hard work and love for his family and more importantly his dogs.
Private family services have taken place. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made, in Johnny’s name, to the Lewis & Clark County Humane Society, P.O. Box 4455, Helena, MT 59604. Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or share a memory of Johnny.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Share
Martina says
My Uncle Johnny will always be remembered by Aunt Katie’s Family in Germany for loving her to eternity and keeping her safe and happy as they spent their lives together in Montana. For my Dad (Aunt Katie’s brother) that was the greatest gift to him. Thank you Uncle Johnny for that gift and “In meinem Herzen lebst Du ewig weiter.” Your German Niece Martina and German Nephews Peter and Ralf
Maria Eshelman says
Dad..you are reunited with your beloved Cocker Spaniels. Shorty, Peanuts, Oly, Freddy, Mitzi, Fritzi, Danny and Sadie. Your weekends always included a trip to your beloved Mike Horse with one of your dogs. You used the excuse of checking the water or checking on George, but we knew that was your happy place. I know your spirit is there, up Shoue Gulch with your dogs again. May you Rest in Peace..
John Thompson
September 19, 1930 – October 15, 2020
Maria Eshelman says
In honor of my Dad, I would be amiss if I did not honor his Ultimate Norwegian Heritage. And being an Ultimate Norwegian we had an annual Norwegian feast. The lefse was always good, but…the Lutefisk was…..awful….at least to me and my Uncle Dewey. We did not partake of the jellied fish and the family feast. But…my Dad LOVED it. Mom learned to cook it “just right”.This next part had to make him the Ultimate Norwegian. He even took leftovers cold in his lunchbox the next day .
Maria Eshelman says
One of my folks happiest times was when we lived in Nye, Montana from 1968-1972. Dad ran the mine for the Anacona Company. We had Big Horn sheep in our back yard, great friends the Hjelviks.
I remember heading back from the fair in Billings late one night, I remember Dad hitting the brakes outside of Absarokee, bailing out of the car, grabbing a tire iron, killing a rattlesnake that was in the road, then throwing the tire iron and the snake at my feet in the back seat. A geologist at the mine loved to cook rattle snake and he took it to him.
Julie says
So sorry for you loss- a great, hard working man.
Maria Eshelman says
Our Legacy
In the early 1900’s, a Norwegian gentleman by the name of Julius Thomason said to his bride Ingomar” let’s go to the new world Mama.” There are so many opportunities there. We can have a great new life.
So Julius and Ingomar boarded a ship to America, landing in the new world through Ellis Island. They made their way to Minnesota to a community with other Norwegians like themselves. Then on to Montana where Julius found work in the land of the Copper Kings, Butte, Montana. They raised their family in the little mining town of Elkhorn, Montana. Their first born son John grew up to be a miner like his father, starting a family with his bride Susan. They had 4 children John A, Theodore, Martha, and Liza.
John A married Vivian Crosier settled his family in the Blackfoot Valley of Western, Montana. He too was a miner. They had three children, John J, Anita, and Norman.
It is with a heavy heart the children and grandchildren came together yesterday to lay to rest John J Thompson.
The family legacy lives on in the faces of our future. Julius and Ingomar, you would be proud ♥️.
Jake Eshelman, Jeff Eshelman, Jasper Eshelman Dana Kreitel Eshelman, Laura Eshelman, Jessie Eshelman Vicki Thompson,
Sianna Rose, Ryan Thompson, Johnniann Thompson, Rayna Thompson