Jacqueline M. Thompson

Jackie Thompson, 89, of Pray, Montana, passed away Saturday, January 9, 2021, at Livingston HealthCare from an unexpected heart related issue. Jackie was born on September 21, 1931, in Columbus, Ohio. She was the second born in a family of five children. Her parents, Edward and Josephine Bender, moved the family to the small railroad community of Crestline, Ohio for his employment on the railroad. Growing up in Crestline, Jackie swam in the bowl-shaped pool at Kelly Park, bought bologna at Lawsons, went crazy for the luscious caramel apples in Becks Bakery, tried on dresses at Hutsons and bought shoes at Lesseurs. She went to school at St. Josephs Parochial School and later worked at Fryes Restaurant by the railroad roundhouse. Fryes Restaurant served many meals to railroad men and one such man, Paul Lear, was taken with Jackie Bender. They married, had four children and Paul built a house on Emmet St. for the family. Ronnie, Jackie (Jr.), Fritz and the youngest, Scott, rounded out their children. They divorced and Jackie met husband number two while both were working at Galion Amco. She married Jim Thompson. After son Ronnies death, and as both Jackie and Fritz had moved to Montana to work in Yellowstone, Jackie and Jim sold the house and moved to Gardiner, MT, to be near the kids and grandchildren. The two doted on their grandchildren and they were their life. They stayed there until Jims death in 2015. Jackie wanted to live closer to daughter Jackie and son-in-law Ralph, and moved to Pray, MT, in 2016.Jackie is survived by daughter, Jackie (Ralph) Jerla, and son, Scott (Wendy) Lear with step-granddaughters Jessica and Jamie, and step-great-grandchildren Jacob, Tyler, Haley, Aden, Marley, and Waylon; granddaughter Angie (Aaron) Burdsall, with great-grandson Talon; granddaughter, Carly (Tom) Mohr with great-granddaughter Astrid; grandson, Zach (Pauwla) Rumli with great-grandsons Hayden and Finley; grandson, Jeremy, and granddaughter, Sheratan.Jackie was preceded in death by husband, Jim Thompson; sons, Ronnie and Fritz Lear. Jackie was the longest living of her four siblings, Vincent, Emma, Joann, and Genevieve, who preceded her in death.A memorial mass will take place Saturday, January 16, at 11:00am at St. Marys Catholic Church, and live-streamed at https://venue.streamspot.com/1d74dac2.