Visitation: Visitation with family present will be one hour prior to the service
Service: Celebration of Life Service at 2:00pm Monday, December 9, 2013
Claire Louise Van Slyke Thompson passed away on December 5, 2013 at the age of 93 at Sanford Hospice Cottage surrounded by her loving family.
Claire was born July 25, 1920 in Sioux Falls, SD, where she lived her entire life. She was born to Emmett and Anna Mae VanSlyke and is pre-deceased by them and her only sibling, Donald Van Slyke.
Claire was married for 49 years to Virgil Thompson before he passed away in 1987. Together they had six children, and Claire became the matriarch of a family which at the time of her death extended to four generations beyond her and included twelve grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. Grateful to have shared her life are her children, Steven Thompson, Sharon Lindstrom, Carol (Bill) Wilson, Michael (Sue) Thompson, Linda Thompson, and Paul (Karmen) Thompson; grandchildren Su (Dave) Ericksen, Ginger Olson, Tamela Davenport, Nancy (Ted) Ellenbecker, Rebecca Lindstrom (fiance Bill Palanuk), Amy Lindstrom, Ann (Diogo Reis) Lindstrom, Christopher Thompson, Julie (Dan) Carlson, Amber (Jamey) Nehring, Joshua Thompson, and Matthew Thompson; and great-grandchildren Chris and Sam Ericksen, Drew Lindstrom, Megan Heiter, Jaydin and Jori Ellenbecker, Isabel and Adrienne Carlson.
In addition to being a full-time mother, Claire also worked as a secretary, first for Emmanuel Baptist Church and then for eighteen years at Sioux Falls College (now USF) in the Development Office and then as secretary to the Dean of Students. She was an active member of Emmanuel Baptist Church and served there in many capacities throughout her life; she was also actively involved in PTA and Girl Scout leadership.
In her near century of life, Claire saw the world change in a myriad of ways, and adapted with grace, humor and humility. Her family and many friends will miss that humor and her warm spirit, not to mention her “gift for giving direction”. We, her family, are blessed to have had her present in our lives for so many years, and are grateful for the legacy of faith, wisdom, morality, laughter and love that she left us. We stand at the finish line of a race well run, to cheer for and mourn the loss of our dear Mama, and to give her to her heavenly home and the arms of the Savior she loved and served.
A service of celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, December 9, 2013 at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1600 E. 12th St., Sioux Falls, SD 57103, with reception following. Visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to the service.
Nancy and Family, I wanted you all to know that your Grandma Claire was an amazing woman and I’m so lucky to have known her. I always enjoyed visiting with her over the years and especially enjoyed the time that she taught Nancy and I how to Knit! She was filled with faith and a great inspiration and someone to look up to. As you celebrate her life today and put a song in the air, she’ll surely be looking down with great pride and spilling love over you all!