Marshall Thompson
courtesy photo
Marshall Thompson
BUTTE — Marshall “Papa” Hart Thompson, age 80, of Butte, passed away at St. James Hospital after a short battle with COVID on Dec. 8, 2021.
Marshall was born in Dillon, on May 18, 1941, to Rayburn Edmund and Barbara Alicia (Gray) Thompson. Rayburn and Barbara were both teachers and passed their love and passion of teaching and coaching onto Marshall and his older brother Russ.
Marshall attended school in Dillon, Hobson and Moccasin. Marshall graduated from Beaverhead High School and then enlisted into the United States Navy, serving active duty from Jan 1961 to Jan 1965 and Naval Reserves from October 1982 to December 2000.
Marshall graduated from Western Montana with a teaching certificate and taught at St. Ignatius High School from 1976 to 2000.
Marshall met the love of his life, Karen Sue (Moran) Thompson, and they were wed on March 7, 1980, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Marshall and Karen, along with Karen’s son Steve, built a life in St. Ignatius. Marshall was passionate about teaching, coaching and attending the Catholic church. Marshall lost Karen in February of 2016 and moved to Havre, shortly afterwards to be closer to his grandson Andy. Papa and Andy had a very special bond; he loved Andy more like a son than a grandson. Due to declining health issues, Andy moved Marshall to Butte, where Jackie (daughter in-law) took care of him for the last two years of his life. Marshall touched many people’s lives and will be dearly missed by all who called him a friend.
Marshall is survived by his brother and sister in-law Russ and Jeanne Thompson and their children, Kim Thompson, Terri Rowan, Karolee Jones, Brian Thompson, Tom Thompson and Lisa Modler; his step-son Stephen Gray and daughter in-law, Jackie Assel; his grandchildren, Andrew Seccomb, Matthew (Allyson) Gray, Marcus (DeLayne) Gray and Skye (Madison) Mollner; his great-grandchildren, Lukas, Avery and Emery Gray, Trissity and Hazel Seccomb, and Amelia Mollner.
Memorial Services will be held at a later time.
Please visit: www.buttefuneralhome.com to offer a condolence or share a memory of Marshall.
Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Marshall and his family.
