Irene Ella Thompson, 105, of St. Ansgar, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, surrounded by her loving family at Good Samaritan Society in St. Ansgar.

Irene was born Aug. 18, 1914, at the farm near St. Ansgar to Gustave and Alma (Schmidt) Feldt. She was baptized at St. John Lutheran Church and confirmed in the Lutheran faith in Grafton, Iowa. Irene graduated from Carpenter High School in 1932. On March 21, 1937, Irene was united in marriage to Leland Ellingson during a double wedding with her sister, Agnes, who married Leland’s twin cousin. They farmed the home Ellingson farm for 39 years. During this time, she was active in farming and in the Deer Creek Lutheran Church, directing choir and teaching Sunday school. She also played saxophone in the Grafton Lutheran Church Band. When they retired from farming, they built a new home on an acreage near Lyle, Minnesota. Leland passed away in 1978. Irene then moved to Austin, Minnesota, and, through the Sons of Norway Lodge, she met and married Charles C. Thompson on Aug. 8, 1981. Through this marriage, she became part of a large new family of three sons and two daughters, 13 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. Irene loved playing her saxophone in churches and nursing homes. She planted many gardens of perennials and vegetables and furnished flowers for church altars, weddings and other gatherings. Irene also enjoyed playing cards, dancing and the Sons of Norway. Charles and Irene traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, Alaska, and several times to Norway and other parts of Europe. The couple moved to the Cedars of Austin in 2009. Irene then moved to the Good Samaritan Society in St. Ansgar. Irene will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Survivors include her stepchildren, Barry (Mary) Thompson of Webster, Wisconsin, Rodney (Jan) Thompson of Austin, Charlane (Mike) Benson of Rochester, Minnesota, Rhonda (Brooks) Heimer of Henderson, Nevada, and Scott (Brenda) Thompson of Austin; 13 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Joan Feldt and Delores Feldt of St. Ansgar and Selma Lysne of Austin; and many nieces and nephews. Irene was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles Thompson, in 2015; brothers, Arnold, Barney and Herbert; and sisters, Agnes Severson and Helen Peterson.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020, at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church in rural Austin. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the church. Interment will be in Red Oak Grove Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to donor’s choice. Services are prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home in Austin. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.