BURDETT — Following a weekend spent with family, including his grandchildren, great grandchildren, and his wife of 62 years, Billie, Pawnee County native and lifelong Burdett resident John Thompson, 84, passed on Oct. 14. Born March 20, 1936, he was the son of John “Howard” and Doris “Jean” (Bindley) Thompson. 

John was a quintessential Kansas farmer and rancher. When his hands weren’t in the soil, he was an active member of the Faith Fellowship Church in Hanston. He was committed to his Christian faith, actively answering the call by participating in Bible studies and assisting with children’s ministries. He had a passion for reading, history, bicycling, planting, K-State sports and volunteering with the Lions Club. John’s numerous bike rides across Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Iowa, and Nebraska hinted at his enthusiasm for travel and love for meeting new people, which he realized by spending winters in Texas and summers in Colorado. Even during his retirement, he found ways to give back from replacing window screens and sheet rock to painting shutters for community churches. 

Survivors include his wife, Billie Mae (Herndon) Thompson of Burdett; a daughter, Robin (Bill) Niederee of Great Bend; a son, Marshall Thompson of Burdett; two grandsons, Daniel (Heather) Thompson of Hanston and Dillon Thompson of Burdett; a sister, Doris Chipman of Denton, Texas; three granddaughters, Katlyn (Jonathan) Rosborough of Washington, D.C., Allison Niederee of Los Angeles, Sarah Niederee of Buffalo, N.Y.; four great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Will, and Anna-Beth Thompson, and James Rosborough. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Dan Thompson.

Pastor Doug Ellison of Faith Fellowship Church in Hanston (located 6.5 miles west of Burdett turn north 1/4 mile) will preside over the memorial service at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 19. The service will be viewable via Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/beckwithmortuary and www.facebook.com/faithfellowship4you. Inurnment will follow at Browns Grove Cemetery, Burdett. Visitation will be 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Memorials may be given to Team Kid Ministry at Faith Fellowship Church in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Beckwith Mortuary

P.O. Box 477 

Larned, KS 67550

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Oct. 18, 2020