ERLA M. THOMPSON

Erla Mae Thompson, age 90 of Sidney, NE passed away at Heritage Estates in Gering on Friday, May 25, 2018 after a long battle with dementia. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, June 6th in the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel in Sidney, with Pastor Corey Jenkins of the First United Methodist Church officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery. You may view Erla’s Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at www.gehrigstittchapel.com. Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Erla’s care and funeral arrangements.
Erla will be missed by her family and friends. The staff at Heritage grew to love Erla, as did the staff at Sloan Estates in Sidney, before moving to Gering. The family would like to thank all the caring staff members who helped to make her transitions easier. Memorials can be given in her memory to the Friends of Alzheimer’s or the Sidney First United Methodist Care and Share program.
Erla was born on November 19, 1927 in Hubbell, NE to Irvin A. and Margaret A. (Russell) Butts. She attended school in Chester, Chappell and Sidney, NE, graduating from Sidney High School in 1946. She worked at Hands Dairy as a teen. She married F. Blaine (Tommie) Thompson after he returned from deployment in the Philippines during WWII. They made their first home in Kansas near Chester, NE and later moved to Sidney where Tommie worked for the Nebraska Department of Roads. Erla stayed at home and raised their two children, Gary and Cheryl. She became very active in the community and was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church, UM Women, BPOE Does, Eastern Star, American Legion Auxiliary, Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, volunteered for the Blood Bank and was one of the first Meals on Wheels volunteers. She played cards with friends until she succumbed to macular degeneration. She loved going to “the hill” for coffee at McDonald’s with her friends and really missed that when she couldn’t go anymore. She also loved playing Bingo and calling Bingo at the nursing homes in Sidney, whenever she could.
She is survived by son Gary (Carol) Thompson of Omaha, NE and daughter Cheryl (Larry) McCaslin of Scottsbluff, NE; grandchildren Cori (Wayne) Boesiger of Lincoln, NE, Brad (Brandi) McCaslin of Scottsbluff and step grandson Ryan Moore of Lincoln; great grandchildren Sam and Jesse McCaslin of Scottsbluff and Karissa and Kyra Boesiger of Lincoln; one sister, Mary Lou Justen of Warner Robbins, GA; one brother, Larry Lee Butts of Lakeland FL; one brother-in-law, Jean Thompson of Chester, NE and numerous nephews and nieces and great nephews and great nieces.
Erla was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers Doyle and Roger, sisters-in-law Jean Butts, Deana Butts, Lois Johnson, Helen Thompson, Vivian Thompson; brothers-in-law Bill Thompson and Bernie Justen; nephews Irv Butts, Richard, Bobby and Jay Justen, Scott Bauer and niece Vicky Bauer.