Memorials › Donald J Thompson

Donald J Thompson

17 May 1932 – 3 Jul 2016

Birth	17 May 1932
Death	3 Jul 2016
Cemetery	Scipio Cemetery Scipio , Millard County , Utah , USA
Added by	Tammy on 06 Jul 2016
FaG	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/166565641

Bio

Donald J. Thompson, devoted and beloved husband, father and grandfather, died early Sunday morning, July 3, only days after observing his 84th birthday. Born May 17, 1932 in Salina, Utah to Burton Monroe Thompson, principal of the Salina schools and Bessie Jackson Thompson, the school secretary turned full time mom. He was the second of four boys, one of five children. Despite the harsh times of the depression, his childhood memories were happy. He and his brothers roamed the small town, swam in the canals, watching B (or maybe C) Westerns, got into mischief and hiked the hills. One favorite hike required passing by the Devil’s grave, a task that had to be undertaken with considerable caution lest the devil’s angels grab you, put warts on your nose and make your hair and teeth fall out. His most vivid early recollections were of times spent in the high country of Fish Lake National Forest where his grandfather, a true cowboy, would drive a herd of cattle to feed on the fresh mountain grass through the summer months. When Don was eight years old, his family moved to Salt Lake City so his dad could add to his education and advance his career. His adaptation to city life was swift. Their first house’s location offered plenty of diversion. Just one block from the temple, it was close to the city and also to hills for hiking, this time with no threatening Devil’s grave. Summers always included a trip back to Salina, traveling with his brothers on the milk train and then later, back up to the high mountain cattle camp with his grandfather. The years of World War II were challenging for his family. They did not replace the car they gave up at the onset of the war until Don was a senior in high school. Those years were spent carrying papers for two and half hours each day so as not to be a financial burden on his hardworking parents. Besides being financially independent from an early age, he was in excellent condition. After high school graduation Don entered University of Utah to study electrical engineering. He joined a fraternity and bought a new car…which required a full time job to fund. The job, added to his studies left little free time. He realized it would have been far better to have had less car and more time for studies and fun…a lesson in making wise choices he never forgot. Don left school in 1951 to serve in the Air Force during the Korean War. He spent most of his service time in Kansas, returning two years later to be a more serious student, graduating in 1955. Don was pleased to be offered a job with Hughes Aircraft Company in Los Angeles. Especially enticing to him were the international opportunities at Hughes. Five years later, he succeeded in getting a slot to work in Germany at an American Air Base where a jet fighter squadron was equipped with Hughes missiles. Once there he spent most weekends touring European countries. Being by then 29 years old and feeling the lack of companionship in his life, Don began to look around. He was not drawn to of the single women on base so it was a perfect opportunity for an 18 year old girl from Idaho named Blix, there for her own international experience. They met at church and when she expressed an interest in castles, he immediately offered to show her some including Neuswanstein in Bavaria. A relationship developing to the background of romantic old castles….what girl could resist? They were married six months later and started what would be 55 years of happiness together, in an old farm house near the picturesque Mosel River. When that assignment came to an end, they returned to Los Angeles, bought their first house and became parents. But the lure of Europe was still strong and when a job in Luzern, Switzerland came up, they packed up their three month old daughter and went. Living in that beautiful city in a lake view apartment was rewarding for several years but with the reality of adding to the family, they decided to come home to California and take up a more conventional life. Don gave up his work on advanced missile design and moved to the space division of Hughes which involved frequent trips to Cape Kennedy for satellite launches. Plus he decided to further his education and entered the MBA program at University of Southern California. This endeavor took four years of night classes and long commutes but Don always thoroughly enjoyed learning. In the next few years, the family grew to six children necessitating a bigger house. In 1973 the family moved to a Woodland Hills house that would be home for forty years. The house was pleasant and roomy, situated on a cul de sac with views of the hills but the best feature by far was the man next door, Tom Jones, who became Don’s best friend. Although they both loved golf and going to UCS football games, perhaps their happiest hours were spent together in one another’s garages….on shared work or just chatting. In those years, by necessity, Don became a man of all work as every aspect of the house was done and then redone as problems arose and styles changed. Adding to the upheaval were the five weddings held there, each causing a flurry of updating inside and out. There was always a new idea cooking in Don’s mind to make each wedding better than the last. A gazebo, floating gardens in the pool, pavers and a deck were all undertaken as wedding prep. Even though he was an engineer, his designs often had small glitches and it was not unusual to see him strip off his tux coat during a reception to rework some aspect of design that was malfunctioning. Other “Don” projects included building a playhouse on stilts for his daughters and a loft to create a fifth bedroom that four of the daughters occupied in turn. They loved being up there, particularly the excellent view of the night sky where they could watch for extraterrestrial activity. They were all convinced they were witnessing alien landings on the nearby hills. And then there were the cars. Over the years Don restored numerous cars for various members of the family. A Toyota for Blix and when that was sold, a little gray Dodge which turned out so well, he did a little turquoise Dodge for Kirstin. Then an Alfa for JT, a Cabriolet for Brittany and Hyundai for Bronwyn. There were several Fiat Spyders (one for Erin, one for Kirstin) and then one that featured a front half from one car and a rear half from another, welded together with wire coat hangers. It was a master piece that Don claimed for himself. Next he tackled a van conversion and when that was done, moved on to a series of Jaguars. The driveway was always full of cars in varying stages of re-design and restoration. It was not unheard of to have fender benders without ever leaving the driveway. In 1988, after 34 years of employment, Don was offered early retirement when Hughes left their long time Valley facility. After much thought, he took it. Concern about what he’d do with his new found time didn’t last long as the family was plunged into an abyss of sorrow with the death of fifteen year old Charity in a car accident. This was a dark time for the whole family and that deep grief is still felt today. Some months after this tragedy, Don was called to be bishop of Calabasas Ward. He was a devout lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and had held many positions over the years. With his new calling, the family received renewed blessings and if we did not exactly heal, we did begin to function. Don relished his calling and had ample time to put into it. Always a gospel scholar, he began to study even more deeply and found great satisfaction and joy in increased learning and service. Teaching the gospel was his preferred activity and he was well known for his insights and understanding. In later years he and Blix served two church missions…one at a college institute, the other at a Korean Branch. This second mission was especially rewarding as they came to love the Korean saints. Don had a special affinity for them and greatly enjoyed the five years he eventually spent serving there. He also taught a weekly institute class for several years. In March 2010 Don suddenly became very ill. A diagnosis was slow in coming and when surgery was finally performed, his family was not given much hope for his recovery. He spent three weeks in the ICU plus two more in “step down” room but after several blessings, numerous fasts and the continuing prayers of many, he came home to his family. Despite achieving a good recovery, that illness had taken a toll on his health. His family had the pleasure of his company for another six years but he bought that time with us at a steep price of chronic unrelenting pain and loss of strength and mobility. The fortitude and bravery he showed were inspiring and heartbreaking, intensifying the love and devotion of his family. In 2013, Don and Blix, with no children close by and dealing with increased health concerns, felt prompted to sell the family home and move to Texas where JT, an MD, could oversee Don’s health care. The house sold quickly and they embarked on an emotional journey of saying goodbye to forty years of joy in Woodland Hills, to the wonderful people there and to a house filled with sweet memories. Tears flowed freely as they drove down the cul de sac for the final time. Turning east toward Texas, their spirits lightened and the trip morphed into an adventure. These few years in Texas proved rewarding. There’s great comfort in having family nearby. Dealing with health issues was less arduous and the entire Thompson clan has repeatedly gathered at the Texas house to create new memories. Texans have been most congenial and welcoming and the weather is never boring. The downside, despite the best of efforts, Don’s health slowly declined. A serious health issue came up a month ago. Although the surgery went well, the recovery was plagued with problems that when coupled with Don’s fragile health, made a recovery this time unlikely. Don saw clearly that his beloved children were all doing well in happy marriages including the newest one, performed just two weeks ago. His adored 19 and a half grandchildren were, of course, deeply loved by their parents and so would be all right. As would Blix, surrounded by loving family. Knowing we would take care of each other and weary of the burdens he had carried so courageously for so long, Don decided to lay those burdens down and put himself in the Lord’s hands. The family’s devastating sorrow and loss is leavened by the surety of joy in heaven as Don is reunited with daughter Charity, parents Burt and Bessie and siblings David B. Thompson, Joel R. Thompson, Fred M. Thompson and Kathleen T. Woodbury and his best friend, Tom. No family could be more blessed than we… for the tower of strength and devotion Don has been to each of us. With his enduring legacy of love, strength and wisdom, we go forth in faith to follow his example. ‘Til we meet again. Don is survived by his wife Blix Wride Thompson, daughters Erin (Edward) Beyer, Kirstin (Corey) Bruce, Brittany (Brett) Hamm, and Bronwyn Briana (Kurt) Fackrell and son Jon Christian (Tiffany) Thompson. Also surviving are 19 grandchildren, Kaylee Amanda Kutnick, Cole Alexander Kutnick, Camden Zackary Kutnick, Brighton Briana (Ryan) Bruce Hillstead, Chandler Scott Bruce, Cambria McCall Bruce, Taylor Thompson, Turner Thompson, J. Christian (“Jax”) Thompson, Judson Gray Thompson, Tinsley Thompson, Jaxon Brett Hamm, Hallie Alexandra Hamm, Bridger Ralph Hamm, Emmeline Brielle Hamm, Dorian Barton Fackrell, Faith Devon Fackrell, Quinn Douglas Fackrell and Lenore Calais Fackrell, with one more on the way. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 8, 2016

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Charity Thompson 1973–1988 FaG

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