Evalyn Amanda Thompson

Evalyn Amanda (Dahl) Thompson, 101, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 20, 2011 at her home in Rochester. The second of 10 children, Evalyn was born January 15, 1910 in Twin Valley, Minnesota, to George and Kaia (Rogen) Dahl.Her family moved east a decade later to Coleraine, Minnesota, where they made their way through the challenges of the Depression and maintained a family home for over 75 years. After graduating from Moorhead State Teachers College, Evalyn taught kindergarten for 14 years in Ely, Minnesota where she also dated one of baseball's greatest hitters, Ted Williams. She would move on to marry the love of her life, the late Morriss A. Tommy Thompson of Gainesville, Texas in June 1949.They traveled for several years while Tommy performed as an organist, and by the early 1950's had settled down together in Rochester, Minnesota.They later enjoyed numerous photo safaris in Africa; frequented the theater in Minneapolis, New York and London; and made annual road trips to Texas with their family cat. Evalyn Dahl Thompson had a superb sense of personal style.A longtime member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester, she also adored her pet cats, good music, fine dining and most of all, being Mrs. Tommy Thompson. Evalyn is survived by her youngest brother, Jim Dahl of Scottsdale, AZ; and eleven nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband in 1980; five sisters, Carmen Betz of Grand Rapids, MN, Doris Lentini of Huntington, NY, Grace Swenson of Cass Lake, MN, Alice Dahl of Coleraine, MN and Shirley Dahl (infant) as well as three brothers, George Dahl of Denver, CO, Kermit Dahl of Mankato, MN and Ren Dahl of Coleraine, MN; and two nephews, Robert Lentini of Tucson, AZ and Bill Betz of Grand Rapids, MN. She was tenderly cared for during her last years by the caregivers of Home Instead Senior Care in Rochester. Funeral services will be held 11:00am Saturday, June 25, 2011 at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester. Visitation will be held from 10:00am until time of services. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery. Charitable donations in memory of Evalyn Thompson would be welcomed by the Paws and Claws Humane Society, 602 7th Street NW Rochester, MN 55901 www.pawsandclaws.org Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester, MN. (507) 289-3600 www.ranfranzandvinefh.com