Jeanette Louise (Sterling) Thompson

Jeanette L. Thompson, age 70 of Lodgepole, NE, passed away in Lodgepole on Tuesday, August 8, 2023. It is with sadness that we send her to her savior.

A Rosary Service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, August 14th, 2023. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, August 14th, 2023, both services will be held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Sidney with Father C.P. Varghese officiating. Interment will be in the Weyerts Cemetery at 1:30 P.M. Jeanette's casket will be closed, but friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel to sign Jeanette's register book and leave condolences for the family. Services will be livestreamed on the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel Facebook page and recorded for later viewing on our website.

Memorials can be addressed to either Bayard City Library or The Bayard Elementary School Library. You may view Jeanette's Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com.

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Jeanette's care and funeral arrangements.

Jeanette L. Thompson was born on September 3, 1952 in Sidney, NE. She was the third of six children of Viola Stormberg and Lewis Sterling. She attended school at Sidney St. Patrick's Academy and graduated in 1970. Her travels led her to Rockhurst College in Kansas City, MO, for one year after which she transferred to Chadron State College for an additional year. She then entered the work force that would find her as a telephone operator for Bell Telephone. On July 10, 1976, she was married at St. Patrick's Catholic Church to Gerald Thompson. This marriage would last for 47 years. In 1983, Jeanette and Gerald would leave Sidney for a new beginning in Bayard, NE. Her husband would teach math and coach while she took on the job of taking care of special needs students at Bayard High School. Eventually she became a paraprofessional at the Bayard Elementary Library. Her love of reading and knowledge of the books in the library was unequalled and she always found just the right book for her elementary students. They became her children. Recess duty went along with the job and on several occasions the snowfall did not stop her or her students from making an undulating snake. It always shortened the time to stay warm. Education was not her only job. Jeanette and her husband helped on the family farm in the summertime. Jeanette could drive a loaded truck to the elevator, run the tractor with various implements, and keep the help fed. In the spring of the year, she volunteered to type up the results of many track meets. She loved to watch the athletes compete and could be seen yelling out of the press box windows on various races. Jeanette's talents were many and will be missed by a great deal of people.

Jeanette was preceded in death by her parents, a sister Kristy Kahl, and a brother-in-law Terry Hanlon.

She is survived by her husband Gerald, her sister Dianne Hanlon of Seattle, WA, her brother Jim (Debbie) Sterling of Omaha, NE, her sister Denise (Tim) of Myrtle Beach, SC, her brother Kirk (Jane) of Colorado Springs, CO, her brother-in-law Kris of Tulsa, OK, and many nieces and nephews. She will also be missed by her dog Blake whom she dearly loved. Rest in peace Jeanette.