Ella Mae Thompson, 94, of Bowman, ND passed away on December 22, 2024 at the Southwest Healthcare Long Term Center in Bowman.

Funeral Services for Ella Mae Thompson will be held on Sunday, January 5, 2025 at 12:30 pm at the Southwest Healthcare Long Term Center Chapel in Bowman. Burial will follow in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan at a later date.  Visitation for Ella Mae will be on Sunday, January 5, 2025 at the SWHC Nursing Home Chapel.  We will add the times as we confirm them.

Ella Mae Thompson of Bowman, ND(for the past 5 years) previously of Bismarck, ND passed away on Sunday, December 22, 2024 at Southwest Healthcare Services in Bowman, ND.

Ella Mae Tkachenko was born on September 4,1930, the daughter of Nick and Mary (Glovatsky)Tkachenko. She was raised West of Killdeer, ND.  Ella Mae graduated from Sheyenne River Academy in Harvey, ND, in 1947 and attended Union College for two years.  On September 1,1949 Ella Mae and Tom Thompson were united in marriage. This year was their 75th Anniversary.  The couple returned from their honeymoon in time for Tom to resumed his studies at Union College.  They spent  most of their life working for Adventist Academys.

Ella Mae was an excellent cook and baker.  She had so many guests including students, facility, and family.  Her table was always "dressed" for company. Ella also directed many school plays.  She took teenagers and made actors out of them. She would also sew the costumes for the productions.

Music was a big part of Ella Mae and Tom's life.  Ella Mae played piano and organ and was able to transpose music to fit the singer's vocal ranges.  Ella Mae and Tom sang at hundreds of weddings, baby dedications, funerals and special occasions.  A vinyl record was made and treasured for their duet blend.

Ella Mae and Tom had dozens of children; not by birth but through their kindness and influence of the students surrounding them.  Ella Mae had a heart for children and people of any age.

Ella Mae enjoyed many things in life, such as traveling, (Alaska being one of their favorite places to go), birding, cooking, music, sewing, and gardening.

She will be deeply missed by her husband, Thomas P. Thompson, 96, of Bowman, ND; nephews and nieces, Ted's wife, Ketty Hansen(Alpajora), ID; Alan and Rayleen (Weisz)Hansen, MN; Curt's wife, Charlene(Juhl)Hansen and Jerry Davis, ND; Jeff and Diane(Pelto)Hansen, KS; Barry and Vicki(Hansen)Toay, ND; Eleven great nieces and nephews, and twelve great great nieces and nephews.

Ella was preceded in death by her parents, Nick and Mary Tachenko; Sister, Evelyn Allram; and two nephews, Ted Hansen and Curt Hansen.

A life well-lived, and cherished by all!