Edward Phillip "Ed" Thompson Jr.

Edward Thompson, 89, early and well-known resident of the Node area, died Saturday at the Wilson Nursing Home in Douglas after a lingering illness.

Funeral services were held from the Peet Chapel in Lusk Wednesday with burial in the Lusk Cemetery. The Rev. James Davis of the Congregational Church officiated.

Gerald Bardo, Dale M. Bardo, James Willson and Lee Johnsonbaugh, accompanied by Mrs. Dale M. Bardo, organist, sang "Rock of Ages" and "The Place Where I Worship".

Pallbearers were: Nick Kaan Sr., Andrew McMaster, Harry Burnham, Ronald Podolak, Jim Shane and Jimmy Shane.

Honorary pallbearers were: Frank Podolak, Ed Lang, Andrew Christian, Herbert Sabin, Don Paisley, Fred Dean, R. W. Reed, Charles Lund, William Speerly, William Glandt, Joe Pfister, Paul Pfister, Joe McConaughey, Pete Germann, Carl Lund, Ferd Price, Charles Podolak, Fay Stiles and Frank Harding.

Edward Phillip Thompson was born February 27, 1875, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward P. Thompson Sr., in Peoria, Ill. Mr. Thompson was a life member of the First Methodist Church of Peoria. He was a candy maker by trade and worked in this profession until he moved to Wyoming in 1913. He homesteaded southeast of Lusk and later moved to a ranch southeast of Node.

He and Esther L. Warnock were married at Douglas in 1932. They had one daughter who died in infancy. The Thompsons lived on the ranch until 1945 when he retired and moved to Lusk where they have since made their home.

A clever humorist and entertainer, Ed combined his candy making ability to be the center of fun for many a community gathering. He playing tenor banjo or autoharp and his wife at the piano were music for countless rural dances. He always had a supply of verses to recite, and for children would manipulate doll and animal puppets that he had made. Even after moving to Lusk he hosted groups for taffy pulls and made Christmas candy for a wide circle of friends.

He is survived by his wife, Esther; one brother, Lem F. Thompson of the New Haven Rest Home in Fairbury, Ill.; several nephews and nieces. Preceding him in death were his parents, five sisters and two brothers.