Mildred Marie Thompson

Mildred, cherished wife and mother, passed away Friday, August 2, 2024, in Peoria, Arizona, at the age of 95.
She was born on March 2, 1929, in Miles City, Montana to Andrew Strand and Gladys Peterson Strand. As a young child, her father died of cancer in 1933 leaving behind his widow and three children, Mildred and her siblings Clarence and Elaine. Weekdays, while her mom worked and stayed in Jordan, Montana, they were left in the care of her Grandpa Peterson and Uncle Desmer on the Rock Springs, Montana primitive homestead. They would eventually move to Jordan, and upon her mother’s remarriage to John Austinson in 1941, would finally settle in Miles City, where Mildred graduated high school in 1947.
Mildred worked at Benson Optical Co. for two years, saving enough money to attend Kinman Business College in Spokane, Washington. It was there she met her future husband, Lloyd, whom she married on November 23, 1950. Soon afterward, they moved to Richland, Washington, where Lloyd would eventually open his Western Auto store. Together, they raised six children. Having accepted Christ as her personal Savior in 1937, faith and family became the central themes for Mildred’s life. She always displayed a “half-glass full” cheerful demeanor. She was a gracious host to friends and family. She availed herself as a Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church in Richland. She attended school PTA meetings, became a 4-H leader, participated in the Tri-Cities Diabetic Association, was a Women’s Bible Study Fellowship leader, and a mother who always made every holiday and birthday special, all while raising her children and working part-time at Western Auto.
When Lloyd sold the store in 1980, Mildred went back to college to refresh her office skills and returned to work at Hanford in 1981, ultimately working at Washington Public Power Supply System as a word processor until her retirement in 1995. Lloyd and Mildred moved to Sun City West, Arizona in 1996, where they would spend the rest of their golden years. Never one to sit idle, she became an active member of Palm West Community Church.
A beautiful soul…when asked if she had any life insight, always concerned for the eternal security of others, Mildred responded, “Live your life, so that you can be proud. And remember, that the most important thing you can do is put your faith in Jesus Christ. Because that means your life is going to go on. It’s going to be even better when we leave this world. And be sure your children know that, too.”
She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Harold Lloyd Thompson. She is survived by her six children Marcia (Steven) Taylor, Vicki Bradshaw, H. Reg (Katie) Thompson, Keith (Melanie) Thompson, Kimberley (Grant) Rodkey, and Rebecca (Derek) Reid. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, nine great-children, and numerous nieces and nephews. Mildred will be buried at River View Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. A memorial is set for August 31. Please join the family in sharing memories, pictures or videos on the tribute wall for Mildred at www.caminodelsol.com.