Henry Hoyt “Hank” Thompson died January 1, 2020 surrounded by his family. Hank was the husband of Frances Kay (Hanifen) Thompson, and father to Dwight David and William (Bill) Wayne.
Hank was born into the family of Clifford L. and Mamie L. Thompson in Military District 1263, Gwinnett County, Georgia on January 8, 1932. Hank joined two brothers, Clifford L., Jr., and James. In 1938, the boys welcomed a sister, Essie Lee.
Hank grew up in Georgia where he and his siblings would play in the Georgia pines from sunup to sundown. One of their favorite thrills was to climb to the top of tall pine trees and sway back and forth. As the arc of their swaying increased, so did their speed, and they’d hold on for all they were worth to avoid being pitched from their perches.
The family worked together to support themselves, and Hank developed a strong work ethic. Once, after the family worked a land owner’s field the entire day, the owner refused to pay them. The memory of that experience remained with Hank through his working life and contributed to his strong sense of fairness.
Hank served in the United States Air Force, where he displayed fastidious attention to detail and precise techniques while performing duties involving the rigging, repairing and folding of parachutes and other aircrew survival gear. He was stationed at Clark Air Base, Philippines and at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington.
While he was stationed at Fairchild, he befriended an airman from Deer Lodge, Montana. Hank and his friend made some trips to Deer Lodge. On one of those trips, Hank met Frances Hanifen, who worked at the soda fountain in Keystone Drug. Hank was smitten and he and Frances were married on October 16, 1955; Frances was 18 and Hank was 23. They were married for 64 years.
Following their marriage, the Thompson’s made their home in Deer Lodge. Hank worked at Warm Springs State Hospital and eventually began work at the Safeway store in Deer Lodge. His outgoing, friendly personality, work ethic and attention to detail helped him earn promotions over the years. Over the course of his career with Safeway, he managed stores in Butte, Anaconda, Deer Lodge, Lewistown, Missoula and Worland, Wyoming. In 1983 he was recognized Safeway Store Manager of the Year for the Butte District; quite an accomplishment for someone from a large, poor family who didn’t graduate high school. Following his retirement from Safeway, he and Frances moved to Florence, Montana, where he worked for a time at a small grocery market.
Hank was a visible, active and outgoing Safeway store manager and his friendliness made him unforgettable. Here are a few examples of how memorable Hank was. Back in the early 1960’s, Hank’s mother traveled from Georgia to visit his family in Montana. He took his mother and family to Yellowstone National Park. While walking through Old Faithful Inn, they heard someone call out, “Is that Hank Thompson?” It was not the first time someone had recognized Hank. His mother asked, “Do you know everybody?”
On another trip to Boise, Idaho, Hank and Frances were walking through Boise’s Town Square Mall when someone waved down Hank from across the mall.
In another instance, David was in Boise casually speaking to an individual. David was wearing an MSU sweatshirt. The individual asked if the sweatshirt was a Montana State University shirt. David replied that it was, and told the representative that he was from Montana and that his father managed a Safeway store in Missoula. With a look of astonishment, the individual exclaimed, “Your dad is Hank?!”
David’s wife attended a professional development seminar held at Western Oklahoma State College in Altus, Oklahoma. While making small talk with the facilitator of the seminar, Lori learned that the facilitator knew Hank through his work in Missoula.
Just last August, Bill took Hank and David on a fishing trip to the Gates of the Mountains. Half way through their trip, they stopped at a bar and grill accessible only by boat. The owner engaged Bill in some small talk as Bill stood at the counter placing our order. After learning that Bill had lived in Deer Lodge, the owner mentioned that some 40 years ago, he was running a distributorship out of Butte, and did quite a bit of business in Deer Lodge. Later the owner joined Bill, Hank and David at their table. The owner mentioned that one person he remembered in Deer Lodge was Hank Thompson. Bill pointed over to where Hank was sitting and said, “Well that’s Hank sitting right there.” Up until that point, neither man had recognized one another. The looks they had on their faces when they realized who the other was is unforgettable.
Hank also had a great sense of humor and an arsenal of one liners. For example, while he was in the hospital after falling and breaking some ribs a nurse asked him if he could wiggle his toes. Hanks reply was, “Which one?” In response to a question about how he was doing he’d say, “Finer than frog hair.” If he were ice fishing, or if it were just real cold outside, he’d say, “It’s colder than a well digger’s butt!”
In retirement, Hank kept busy with his children and grandchildren and detailing the landscaping, flowers and trees around their home. Hank was passionate about fishing. In the summer, when he wasn’t working in the yard, he was probably fishing on the Clark Fork, the Bitterroot, or the Little Blackfoot. In the winter, he’d go ice fishing on Georgetown Lake, Ninepipe Reservoir or Canyon Ferry Reservoir.
When Hank and Frances were planning their funeral arrangements Frances said, “Hank is a great fisherman but I never liked to fish and never went with him. So, if both our ashes are scattered in the river that will be the first time we will fish together.” She then turned to Hank and asked if that was alright with him and Hank replied, “I guess that would be alright.”
Hank is survived by his wife Frances; sons, David and Bill and their wives, Lori and Bonnie; four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and his last surviving sibling, his sister, Essie Lee “Polly” Thompson. We’ll need a bigger boat for that final fishing trip.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Dave and Karen Berrett says
Dave,
We are so sorry for the loss of your father. He was a wonderful person, and quite a guy.
Love you guys,
Dave and Karen
Sharon Sinerius Bloor says
Hank was a good man. I’ll never forget how he would come and grab the kids when I came into Safeways to shop. He would carry them into the back room and kaughed with delight when I would come back to get what were 3 chocolate or licorice covered babies. He always thought that was the funniest thing to see them slurp up all the candy he could give them and see what a mess they would mKe if themselves. The babies loved him and he thoroughly enjoyed them. My sincere condolances, Hank was a good, good man. I am fortunate to have known him.
Heather (King) Minster says
Hank was like a grandpa to me. My dad’s best friend. I knew him since the day I was born. I am so sorry to have just learned of this. He and Frances were on my mind a lot lately and I was trying to figure out how to get ahold of them since they moved away from Missoula. Please let Frances know I miss them both terribly and am so sorry for her loss. I have a million memories of Hank that I will treasure always.