Clair Thompson Obituary

Clair L. Thompson, 88, of Mitchell, South Dakota passed away on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at Firesteel Healthcare Center in Mitchell. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at Will Funeral Chapel in Mitchell. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Military Honors will follow the service. Clair LeRoy Thompson, triplet son of Elmer and Ella (Vearrier) Thompson, was born September 4, 1936 at Plankinton, SD. He grew up on the family farm near Storla, SD. Clair attended country school in the Storla area. After his schooling, he worked on the family farm. Clair entered the US Navy on June 29, 1955 and served as a boiler tech second class. He was honorably discharged on June 16, 1959. Clair was united in marriage with Nyle Ann VanZee on January 20, 1964 in Wessington Springs, SD. The couple moved to Colorado Springs, CO where he was employed at the Air Force Base. He later moved to Mitchell, SD and then Mt. Vernon, SD. He was employed at the Methodist Hospital and at a local grocery store. Later he was employed doing road construction. The couple moved to Salem to be closer to family and later returned to Mitchell. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 18 in Mitchell, a lifetime member of the VFW Club and a member of the 40/8 Club. He enjoyed gardening, wine making, hunting, fishing and time spent with his grandchildren. In recent years he enjoyed Nascar, Rodeo and golf on television. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Nyla Thompson, Mitchell, SD; his four children, Jodeen (Kevin) Brown, Ramona, SD, Trudy (Brad) Seamer, Sioux Falls, SD, Peggy Leighton, Madison, SD, Terry (Jennifer) Thompson, Colman, SD; his grandchildren, Skyler, Spencer (Shelby) and Ramsey Leighton, Cooper, Ryker and Tucker, Seamer, Amanda and Stephany Brown, Isaak, Jakob and Kadin Thompson; a great grandson, Boyd Leighton. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Ella Thompson, brothers, Lloyd, Clayton, Robert, Lester and Clyde; sisters, Lulu Strand, Violet Kropp, Darlene Muth, Opal Strand, Lois Shefner, Delores McDonald.