Shirley Bethel Thompson

MOUNT HOREB - Shirley B. (Pope) Thompson, created a rich legacy by being a maverick for making the world a better place.  She died peacefully at Agrace HospiceCare, on Jan. 24, 2024, at the age of 95.

Shirley B.’s memory will be cherished by her children:  Mary Thompson (Larry Jenkins), Madison, Wis., Rodney (Jane) Thompson, Appleton, Wis., Janet Thompson, Madison, Wis., and Randall (Amy) Thompson, Mount Horeb, Wis.; grandchildren:  Andrew Kratz (Melanie), Kaukauna, Wis., Ashley Thompson, Milwaukee, Wis., Anthony Weber, Madison, Wis., Steven (Kate) Thompson, West Allis, Wis., Alexander Thompson, Oregon, Wis., and Sara Thompson, Mount Horeb, Wis., and her beloved granddog, CoCo; sister, Darlene P. A. Polzin, Des Moines, Iowa; sister-in-law, Sharryl Pope, Long Beach, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her son, Thomas Milford; son-in-law, Richard L. Haynes, Madison Wis.; parents, Virgil and Dorothy (Canfield) Pope;  siblings and in-laws:  Mary Marxen (William) Tisdale, Saskatchewan, Canada, Jennie R. (Robert) Campbell, Alton, Ill., Dorothy J. (Wayne) Smith, Janesville, Wis., C. Donald Pope (Mary Ellen), Whitewater, Wis., and V. Lindsay Pope, Long Beach, Calif.; Donald Polzin, Des Moines, Iowa; and the father of her children, Milford R. Thompson, Mount Horeb, Wis.  

Shirley B. was born on July 30, 1928, in Tisdale, Saskatchewan, to Virgil and Dorothy (Canfield) Pope.  Always a Canadian at heart, she moved to Janesville, Wis., the original home of her father, Virgil Pope. She made her mark at Clinton High School as one of the most popular girls in school because everyone loved her accent and her Model A car.  From there she attended Madison Technical College and launched her business career working for UW Hospitals and the Wisconsin Medical Society.  She married Milford in 1948 and raised her four children on Maple Shade Farm, Mount Horeb, Wis., which she believed were some of the best years of her life.  During that time, she was a leader in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mount Horeb, civic affairs and political activities--running multiple campaigns for office.  Later she would become the director for Wisconsin Vocational Education Council, one of two women on the Wisconsin Power and Light (Alliant Energy) Board of Directors; and a director of the Henry Vilas Zoo.

Shirley B. was a proud mother and grandmother and a pioneer for women everywhere-a woman far ahead of her time.  She loved her family and delighted in entertaining them and friends.  She was bright, creative, adventurous, a green thumb, poet and had friendships across the globe.  She was a gifted athlete and enjoyed anything with a ball including a retirement filled with golf -including two holes-in-one at her home course of Cherokee Country Club. Oh, did she relish her victories over the men!  She followed her beloved Packers, Brewers and Badgers and was an armchair quarterback with her sons.  Her best friends from golf, bridge and coffee groups enriched her retirement and created many memories.

Special thanks to her medical professionals at UW Hospital and Clinics, Madison, Wis., Mayo Clinic and Agrace Hospice but especially Dr. J.B. Chung and Dr. Alexis Eastman. Also, we have gratitude for the spiritual guidance from our Pastor John Twiton. Memorials for Shirley B. can be made to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mount Horeb or a charity of your choice.

A memorial service will be held at the EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 315 E. Main St., Mount Horeb, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. A visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. Family and friends who wish to view the service via LIVESTREAM may visit Shirley’s obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com at the time of the service and click on Watch Now in the Webcast section.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Camacho Mount Horeb

Funeral & Cremation Care

500 N. Eighth St.

(608) 437-5077