Mary Helen (Hinkley) Thompson, 93, Dickinson, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011 at the CountryHouse Residence, Dickinson. The celebration of Mary’s life will be held on Friday, Feb. 25 at 1:00pm at the United Methodist Church in Dickinson. Visitation is Thursday, Feb. 24 from 8:00am to 8:00pm at Ladbury Funeral Service, with the family present to greet friends from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Feb 25. There will be a prayer service at 7:00pm Feb. 24 at Ladbury Funeral Service.
Mary Helen Hinkley was born April 17, 1917 in a sod house on the prairie near Bowman, North Dakota, the daughter of homesteaders Harry and Katie (Delaney) Hinkley. Mary was one of six children. She spent her early days attending school at Grand River and graduated from Bowman High School. Mary worked in Buffalo, South Dakota and spent a winter in Florida before purchasing her own dry cleaning business in Bowman. Mary was very proud to be a woman business owner and operated the cleaners until her marriage to Ellis Eugene Thompson of Fairfield, ND on July 26, 1942. The first few years of their marriage was somewhat spent apart as Ellis was commissioned in the Army as a spotter pilot in WWII and also served in the Air Force as a flight instructor during the Korean Conflict. Faye, Carol, Leland, Susan, Jane, June, Joan, and Thomas were the children born to Mary and Ellis. Ellis died in an airplane accident in June 1960. Mary took charge of her family and continued to raise her children in Dickinson.
Mary was very involved with the United Methodist Church and participated in the women’s groups. She loved to entertain large family gatherings at holidays and picnics, and having her coffee group over for “birthday pie.” Trips to Alaska, the Black Hills, Theodore Roosevelt National Park and seeing the Medora Musical were enjoyed. She was an enthusiastic rodeo attendee and continued her whoops and hollers even while watching rodeo on television at CountryHouse. Although her stroke in 2008 took away memories, her cheerful and happy spirit charmed her family and the CountryHouse staff with her unusual words and phrases.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother, husband Ellis, brothers Clarence Hinkley, Charlie Hinkley, sister Margaret Njos, son Leland (1949 of accidental death), and daughter Faye (1967 of anaphylactic shock). She is survived by five daughters, Carol (Ed) Malone, Mill Creek, WA, and grandchildren Mike (Marie) Malone, Katie (Drew) Henrickson, Mark Malone; Susan (Chuck) Kadrmas, Dickinson, and grandchildren Kristy (Myron) Hintz, Ryan (Jo Marie) Kadrmas, Jason Kadrmas; Jane (Terry) Glick, Dickinson, and grandchildren Travis (Jessica) Glick, Tyler Glick, Thomas Glick; June (Gary) Preszler, Bismarck, and grandchildren Louise (Michael) Little, Laura Preszler (fiancé Ben Roemmich), Luke Preszler; Joan (William) Herauf, Dickinson, and grandchildren Hayley Herauf (fiancé Paul Letvin), Billie Herauf, Sally Herauf; and one son Thomas (Tina) Thompson, Bismarck. Mary also leaves her brother Art (Ruth) Hinkley of Bowman, sister-in-law Shirley Hinkley of Springfield, Oregon, nine great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
In remembrance of Mary, those that wish may make contributions to the Dickinson United Methodist Church, Hope Christian Academy of Dickinson, or Dickinson State University.
Mom, we know it wasn’t easy raising all of us kids. Although you were given many “lemons” in your life you never turned sour or bitter. You took those lemons and made life sweeter for all of us – including the best lemon meringue pie. Thanks, Mom, for everything.
