Loyal Burton Thompson

Loyal Burton Thompson passed away at Golden Ours Convalescent Home in Grant, Nebraska, on Dec. 3, 2020, at the age of 95.
Loyal was born in Garfield County on June 10, 1925, to Lester and Ismay (Elliott) Thompson. He attended school through the eighth grade, then began working to help provide for his family. He served in the Army from 1945 to 1947 and was stationed on Luzon in the Philippines after World War II.
Loyal met Ina Faye Daiss on main street in Arthur in 1945. They corresponded while Loyal was in the Army and were married in Grant on March 7, 1948.
After their marriage, Loyal and Ina lived in Burwell for a short time, then moved to Ina’s family farm southeast of Grant, where they remained for 70 years. Loyal loved farming and raising cattle. He was a longtime member of the Grant Lions Club, American Legion Post 40 and VFW Post 3755. Loyal was recognized by the Red Cross for his lifelong dedication to giving blood.
Loyal spent many enjoyable years coaching youth baseball in Grant. He was an avid bowler, and later in life, he enjoyed playing golf at the Grant course. Loyal and Ina were honored when the Grant community selected them as Grand Marshals for the 2015 Perkins County Fair parade.
As a believer, Loyal’s faith in Christ was the guiding force of his life. It prompted him to reach out and help many people over the years. He and Ina were a tremendous duo in that regard. Loyal was a faithful member of the Grant United Methodist Church. He loved spending time with others and was blessed with many close friendships in the Grant area.
Loyal was preceded in death by his son Lex; granddaughter Amy Lynn Thompson; grandson Jovic Gould; three brothers, Leonard, Leland, and his twin brother Lowell; five sisters, Flossie, Agnes, Edna Mae, Virginia, and Bertha Olive, who died in infancy.
Loyal is survived by his wife of 72 years, Ina Faye (Daiss) Thompson; daughter, Trudy (Rod) Beemer of Imperial; son Allen (Cyndi) Thompson of Rocheport, Missouri; daughter Renae (Mark) Bottom of Grant; daughter-in-law Jodi (Moreland) Thompson of Imperial; sister Ferol Hoppes of Burwell; seven grandchildren, Jared Thompson of Laurel, Montana; Lacey (Beemer) Franzen of Crete; Geoffrey Beemer of Imperial; Leann (Thompson) Carruthers of St. Louis; Brian Thompson of St. Louis; Whitney (Bottom) Soper of Ogallala; Kyle Bottom of Hershey; 11 great-grandchildren, Bryarrose Thompson of Denver, Colorado; Skye and Brody Thompson of Laurel, Montana; Anna and Cora Franzen of Crete; Avery, Emerson and Grayson Beemer of Imperial; Marilla and Roger Carruthers of St. Louis; Adler Soper of Ogallala.
Visitation for Loyal was held on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, from 2-6 p.m. at the Bullock-Long Funeral Home in Grant.
Due to current concerns relating to the pandemic, a private family graveside service was held in the Grant Fairview Cemetery with Pastor Lorri Kentner officiating.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Loyal’s memory for later designation by his family.