September 22, 1934 — November 23, 2023
Phyllis was the oldest of three children born on September 22, 1934 to Twila “Marie” Menge and Phillip Menge.
Phyllis attended Limon Public Schools, where she participated in Glee Club and Music, graduating in 1952. After high school she attended Blair Business College.
She married Lee Thompson on June 12, 1955. To this union were born two children, Teresa and Troy.
After their marriage, Lee joined the Army where he was stationed in Italy for 24 months. During this time and after Teresa was born, Phyllis and Teresa followed him to Italy, allowing Phyllis and Lee to travel throughout Europe. Upon returning home Lee and Phyllis started farming north of Limon.
Phyllis worked at MVEA from April 1953 to 1955. In the years after living abroad, Phyllis worked for the US Soil Conservation Service from 1961 to 1963. She stayed at home after the birth of Troy and then she started working in 1965 at the Limon Co-op as a bookkeeper and then became the manager and continued to work there for 15 years. She later went to work as a CPA and did tax preparation with Winfrey and County until she retired.
Phyllis enjoyed singing with the church choir and the Limon Woodlin Music Club as well as singing with a group of women from the community in a small acapella group. Phyllis enjoyed playing the piano and the accordion, especially with the many Swiss kids that came to live with them over the years. Lots of singing and yodeling took place during those times. She was an avid reader and loved turning the pages of each book. It was not surprising to see her read 2-3 books a week.
Her life on the farm was always busy. She helped drive truck, haul wheat to the elevator, drove tractor and drove the combine during wheat harvest. Not to mention she was the master chef for the harvest crews, cooking 3 meals plus an afternoon snack each day and delivering them to the fields. She was never a fan of harvest as it was such a crazy two-three weeks of being up early and cooking all day and working in the fields until late. She used to complain about how messed up the refrigerator looked during that time but there was always a well-fed crew!
Phyllis enjoyed travelling and her and Lee flew in their personal airplane to many places until 1999, when they traded their airplane for a motorhome. She was in heaven travelling around the country getting to meet different folks and seeing different places. She particularly loved spending the winters in Arizona where she had established a group of friends that she enjoyed spending her time with. She got to spend her days reading books, enjoying the sunshine, and always looked forward to happy hour and wine with many dear friends.
She enjoyed making quilts with her Mom and sister for many years to take to Warren Village Homeless Shelter. They also took many to hospitals for newborns families to be sure they took their new little bundle home in a warm and made with love blanket.
Phyllis loved to do the family travel Christmas vacations every other year, seeing all the family together and enjoying the sites of the many different cultures with her family.
Phyllis loved watching her kids and grandkids in all their activities throughout the years, and was always so proud of all their accomplishments.
Phyllis was very involved with the United Methodist Church and served as their chair for many years. She was and remained a big part of the Walks Camp Park Association north of Limon serving as the President for over 30 years. She was always proud of keeping the park groomed for the many folks who visited and worked tirelessly to make sure it was kept up for the many generations to follow and enjoy.
Phyllis is survived by her husband Lee of 68 years, her daughter Teresa O’Dwyer and husband Bart and her son Troy Thompson and his wife Casey. She loved her grandchildren: Erin Mellott (Paul), Kylee Samuels (Tristan), Megan Smith (Tyler) and Tucker Thompson. She has eight great grandchildren, Brandon, Karson, Keagan, and Kinlee Mellott, Sophie and Cooper Smith and Bodhi and Finn Samuels. Phyllis has one surviving sister Carolyn Cain, a sister-in-law Mary Ann Menge and many wonderful nieces and nephews, and her close motorhome friends.
She is proceeded in death by her parents, Marie Menge and Phillip Menge, one brother Harold Menge, as well as Lee’s parents Clifford and Pearl Thompson and Lee’s siblings: Barbara, Harry, Donna, Anita and Allen.
Pall Bearers: Erin Mellott, Kylee Samuels, Megan Smith, Tucker Thompson, Brandon Mellott, Karson Mellott, Keagan Mellott and Kinlee Mellott.
Honorary Pall Bearers: Bart O’Dwyer, Casey Thompson, Paul Mellott, Tristan Samuels, Tyler Smith, Bodhi Samuels, Finn Samuels, Sophie Smith and Cooper Smith.
Services will be held Tuesday, December 5th at 10 a.m. at the Limon Methodist Church.
Memorial Contributions
Walks Camp Park Association
59495 State Hwy 71
Limon, Colorado 80828
