Donna Y. Thompson

Donna's service will be live-streamed to our Farmer & Son Funeral Home YouTube page at: https://www.youtube.com/@FarmerSonFuneralHome Donna Yvonne (Hulse) Thompson was born to Willard Cornelius Hulse and Edith Irene (Boden) Hulse at Friend, Nebraska on July 18, 1938. She passed away at Bryan Health in Lincoln, Nebraska on March 3, 2026 at the age of 87 years, 7 months and 16 days. She was one of ten children in the family. As a young child, Donna lived on a farm near Friend until the age of four when her family moved to a farm southeast of Fairmont. Thenext year they moved to the “Miller” place northeast of town where the remainder of her childhood was spent. She recalled many happy hours playing there with her sisters and brothers. Donna helped her Dad on the farm with the many chores such as feeding livestock, milking cows, gathering eggs, and in the fields stacking hay and harvesting grain. She also helped in the home with cooking, cleaning, and caring for her many younger brothers and sisters. Donna began her education at the age of five in a one-room country school, District #78. Upon consolidation, she attended District #27 from 3rd through 8th grade and graduated from Fairmont High School in 1955 at the age of 16. She then went to Lincoln to work for the Lincoln Telephone Co. until her marriage on March 25, 1956 to George Willard Thompson at the Fairmont Federated Church. She continued to work at the York branch of the Lincoln Telephone Co. until the birth of their first child. They made their lifetime home on an acreage in the northwest part of Fairmont and raised their three children, Kim, Kelly, and Jenny, there. In the Fall of 1995, their two grandchildren, Scott and Nicole Thompson, came to live with them. Until they graduated from high school, Donna unselfishly committed her time and energy during those years to their love and care. Donna continued to live in their farm home after her husband’s death, until a fire destroyed their home in 2016. She then lived in a duplex in Fairmont until her death. Donna was baptized on March 5, 1939 at the German (Plymouth) Congregational Church in Crete, Nebraska and became a member of the Fairmont United Church of Christ on May 4, 1958. She was active in the church for many years and served on various boards and committees. She also taught Bible School and Sunday School for several years. Donna was a homemaker who stayed home to care for her family. She enjoyed sewing for her children and making accessories for the home. Some of her hobbies were embroidery, quilling with friends, making flannel quilts for the family, and genealogy. She went to auctions and garage sales where she purchased furniture to refinish. She loved baking pies, cakes, and rolls, but especially will be remembered for the many Christmas cookies she made every year and shared with family and friends. Donna also spent many hours working in the yard with her flowers and garden. She canned and froze fruits and vegetables. Her homemaking and livestock skills aided her in guiding her children in their various 4-H projects. She was a bookkeeper for their business, Thompson Land Leveling, for over 25 years and treasurer of the Fairmont Public Cemetery Association from 1985 to 2021. Donna also worked on the County Election Board for the Fairmont Precinct and was a member of the United Methodist Women and Fairmont Woman’s Club. She always looked forward to the fun and laughter at the family reunions held in the summer --- the Hulse Family at Yankton, S.D. and at Nebraska parks and the Thompson reunions at Lake McConaughy or various sites in Nebraska and Colorado. Donna especially enjoyed the many trips she and George took to the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado. She treasured all the get-togethers of extended family that she hosted for many years and more recently allthe holiday gatherings and visits with her own family. Donna’s great-grandchildren brought her great joy in her later years. She looked forward to attending their birthday parties and also to help their great Aunt Jenny plan parties for them on Easter, Halloween, and other special times during the years. Donna was preceded in death by her parents, husband George who passed away December 16, 2011, infant daughter, Francine Kae and daughter Georgia Kim Thompson; brother, Charles “Chuck” Hulse; sisters, Beverly Ely and husband William, Janice Galusha and husband Del, Suzanne Languis, and Judith Becker; sister-in-laws, Shirley Petroff and husband James and Virginia Hultman and husband Earl; and nephew, Larry Ely. She is survived by daughter Jennifer Klipp and husband Leslie of York; son, Donavan Kelly Thompson of Fairmont; grandson, Scott Christopher Thompson and wife Anna of Omaha, NE; and granddaughter, Nicole Danae Wissing and husband Michael of Surprise, AZ; great-grandchildren Grayson and Cassidy Wissing and Mason, Camden, and Ava Thompson; sisters, Gloria (James) Swartz of Marshall, MN, Cynthia (Jon) Rethwisch of Wayne, and Crystal (Kevin) Davis of York; brother, Marvin (Corinne) Hulse of York; brothers-in-law Rex Becker of Kingman, AZ, and Don Languis of Panama, NE; sister-in-law Lois (Myron) Bertron of Frederick, CO, and many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends. A Funeral Service for Donna was conducted from the Fairmont Community Church on March 10, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. with Kim Dunker officiating and Robin Galusha as the organist. The recorded selections included “Precious Memories,” “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” “Wings Of Dove,” and “Because He Lives.” The recessional congregational hymn was “God Will Take Care Of You.” Pallbearers included Dana Galusha, Brad Hulse, Jeremiah Rethwisch, Cory Hulse, Chad Hulse, and Michael Wissing. Honorary pallbearers included Daren Galusha, Shawn Languis, Jerome Languis, Bryan Becker, Tony Becker, Brent Hulse, Jesse Rethwisch, Jason Rethwisch, and Matthew Davis. Interment was in the Fairmont Public Cemetery. Farmer & Son Funeral Home was in care of the arrangements and online condolences can be left at www.farmerandsonfuneralhome.com Memorials are directed to the Fairmont Community Church, Fairmont Public Cemetery, and Fairmont Public Library.

Tributes

Donna Y. Thompson

July 18, 1938 - March 3, 2026