Lawrence Avery Thompson, Sr.
May 13, 1933 - April 18, 2020
Graveside services for Lawrence Avery Thompson, Sr., 86, of Lame Deer, MT, formerly of Fort Hale, SD, were held on April 22, 2020, at St. Alban’s Cemetery of Fort Hale, SD.
Lawrence Avery Thompson, Sr. died peacefully in the presence of family on Saturday, April 18, 2020, at St. Vincent’s Hospital of Billings, MT.
Lawrence Avery Thompson, Sr. was born May 13, 1933, on the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation of South Dakota to Gladys Thompson and Russell Long Turkey.
He married Daisy Lee Hascall on Nov. 30, 1957, in Olympia, WA. Larry began his education by attending rural school at Fort Hale Bottom in South Dakota. He graduated from Todd County High School of Mission, SD, in 1954 and took part in track, football and boxing. His senior year, he was elected homecoming king.
Following high school, he attended two years of college at the University of South Dakota of Vermillion, SD, before joining and completing a tour of duty in the United States Army from 1956 through 1958 in Fort Lewis in Washington, receiving an honorable discharge. Later he received an associate’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin.
Larry was a “cowboy” in the real sense of the word, as well as an accomplished horseman. His first love was and always has been working with horses and cattle. This prompted him to own and operate a ranching business from 1958 to 1980.
Larry spent 31 years in the civil service, working for the Indian Health Service.
He was also very active in community organizations. He was an active member of the All American Indian Activities Association, the Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Western South Dakota Buckaroos. He served as the president of the Lower Brule and Missouri Valley Horseman’s Club, president of the South Dakota State Foster Parents Association, president of the Chamberlain Lions Club and vice-president of the local mental health chapter.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of 62 years, Daisy Thompson of Lame Deer, MT; their ten children, Avery Thompson and wife, Dixie of Fort Hale, SD, Robert Thompson of Rapid City, SD, Bernard Big Eagle of Lame Deer, MT, Marcel Felicia and wife, Stacey of Lakeville, MN, Deborah Davis and husband, Douglas of Billings, MT, Lee Felicia and wife, Dayle of Wyola, MT, Greg Thompson and wife, Marge of Helena, MT, Cheryl Corriveau and husband, Gary of Choctaw, OK, Bill Long Turkey and wife, Theresa of Lower Brule, SD, and John Long Turkey of Mitchell, SD; 27 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren; sisters, Joyce Cook and husband, Leroy and Shirley Ashley and husband, Todd and multiple nieces, nephews and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Harry and Mamie Thompson; his parents, Gladys Thompson Menzie and Russell Long Turkey; a sister, Lanette Long Turkey and four brothers, James “Jimmy”
Long Turkey, Myron Menzie, Richard Menzie and William Menzie.