The funeral service for Betty Thompson, 99, Valley City, North Dakota will be 2 pm Friday, April 28, 2023 at Epworth United Methodist Church, Valley City. Visitation will be from noon until the time of the service at the church. Burial will be later in the spring in Woodbine Cemetery, Valley City.
Bertha “Betty” Mjolsness was born on September 25, 1923 on the farm operated by her parents, Nels and Alma (Borgen) Mjolsness near Perley, Minnesota, the fourth child of nine children. Bertha was named after her Swedish Grandmother Britta and her aunt Bertha. Bertha was immediately nicknamed “Betty”, the name used the rest of her life. She was baptized at the Lanstad Lutheran Church which had been founded by her father along with a number of immigrant Norwegians .
When Betty approached her 6th birthday, she joined her brother and older sisters on the half mile walk to the “Open View “ eight grades country school. She entered the fourth grade when her family moved from the Perley farm during a cold November to another farm near Felton in Clay County. She attended school at Felton, graduating in 1942. After high school graduation, Betty attended Dakota Business College in Fargo and worked in Fargo for a short time after college graduation.
She was united in marriage to Sidney Thompson on June 15, 1947 in Felton. They lived in Moorhead, Minnesota for six months before moving to the Thompson family farm in Svea Township near Litchville, North Dakota. Betty was a very active farm wife, doing farm chores and caring for her family. She was active in the Svea community for 25 years and an active member of the Elim Evangelical Free Church.
In 1972, they moved to Valley City and joined the Epworth United Methodist Church where Betty was active in circle and other committees. Sid passed away on April 7, 2003. Betty has lived at Bridgeview Estates assisted living since 2012
Betty passed away on April 18, 2023 at CHI Mercy Health, Valley City surrounded by family. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Sidney, sisters Inez, Anna, and Mary Lou and brothers James, Alton and Robert.
She is survived by her son Philip (Gloria) Thompson, Warren, Minnesota; her daughter Cheryl (Bruce) Benson, Fairview, Montana; four grandchildren, Monica (Ryan) Nelsen, Mark (Mikelle) Thompson, Allen (Alexandra) Benson and Dennell Benson (Caleb Whichard); three great grandchildren Maxwell Nelsen, Charlotte Nelsen and Freya Thompson. Her sister Norma Thiesen, Billings, Montana; her brother Dan Mjolsness, Naples, Florida and several nieces and nephews, also survive.
Cards may be sent to Phil Thompson, 624 E Pleasant Ave, Warren, MN 56762 or Cheryl Benson, PO Box 351, Fairview, MT 59221. Memorials may be designated to Epworth United Methodist Church or the Valley City Food Pantry.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City. An online guestbook is available at www.olivernathanchapel.com