Lila Grace Thompson Obituary
On Saturday, June 20, 2026, Lila Grace Thompson died at the age of 105 at The Villages at Red Mountain assisted living and memory care, in Mesa, Arizona. She lived in her own home until entering the Villages on December 1, 2025 at over 105 years of age, thanks to the dedicated and loving care giver assistance of her daughter, Mary and son-in-law, Bob, as well as hospice help, meals on wheels, and caring neighbors visiting and bringing food to her. She was a remarkable woman, who was loved and liked by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.Lila was born in Belvidere, SD in 1920 and lived in Sioux Falls, SD before, and after, marrying Cletus Jerome Thompson in 1946.
Lila lived a full life, had a loving family and many, many, friends. She graduated from Washington Senior High School in 1938 (Sioux Falls), worked for the OPA during World War 2 and was partners with her husband Clete in running their business, Clete’s Auto Sales in Sioux Falls for 20 plus years, until they retired. Their business was very successful and thrived, as they put people above profits. They had two children, Mary Lou and Gene and the 4 of them had many wonderful adventures together! They traveled with their children every year, visiting most of the United States, camping, fishing and sightseeing along the way. They were wonderful parents.
Sioux Falls was their home for many years until their retirement, where they then spent summers camping in a travel trailer in the Black Hills of South Dakota, which eventually led to them buying a home in the Black Hills near Hill City on the beautiful, Mitchell Lake. They traveled back and forth from Sioux Falls to Hill City, but eventually sold their home in Sioux falls to permanently live in the Black Hills. Many years passed and the sunshine bug hit them, and led them to buy a home in Palm Gardens in Mesa AZ. They were snowbirds for many years, and traveled back and forth to spend the summer months in the Black Hills, until they sold their home there to permanently live in Mesa AZ. She was married to the love of her life, Cletus J. Thompson for 63 years before he died in Mesa in 2009. They had a wonderful life, and marriage together.
Lila and Clete were avid outdoorsmen and loved to hunt, and hunted pheasants, ducks, geese, many a deer. They also loved to fish! Lila was one of the women pioneers of fly fishing, and taught many people who came to visit them, how to do it, too. She and Clete square danced, attended plays, and dinner and movie theaters, went to movies, played cards with family and friends, swam in the parks pool, attended Saturday coffee and rolls at the community hall, attended community events, and continued to travel as long as they could, with family and with friends. They were on the go a lot and had a full active life. They adored each other and they were deeply committed to each other for their entire lives.
As per her wishes, her body was donated to Science Care. She is survived by her daughter Mary (Bob) Ebel of Mesa, Arizona, son Gene (Salli) Thompson, of Danville, California, granddaughter Jolynn (Steve) Clark of Piedmont, SD, 3 Great grandchildren, Amber Wright, and James Wright, of Rapid City, SD and Kaeli Clark of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 3 Great Great Grandchildren Sophia Wright, Micah Wright, and River Wright, of Rapid City, SD
She was preceded in death by her husband, Cletus Jerome Thompson, her mother and father, Nina Gray and Carlyle Gray, and her Stepfather Herbert Mashke, her sister, Helen Johnston, and brother Eugene Thompson, who died at the age of 20 at the battle of Normandy in world war 2.
She is missed. See you in Heaven.
