Eugene 'Gene' Thompson, 81

Eugene “Gene” Thompson, 81, went peacefully in his sleep in the early morning hours of Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013, at his home near Lake Blaine, of natural causes.

Gene was born Oct. 6, 1931, in Somers to Catherine (McClung) Thompson and Eugene Thompson Sr. He attended grade school at Central School and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1950.

He married Margene Christopher in 1951. Margene passed away in 1973.

In 1957, Gene joined the Kalispell Fire Department. He fought the huge Conrad Bank Building fire on Sept. 15, 1959, which gutted 40 business offices, one the worst fires in Kalispell’s history. Gene served as Kalispell’s fire marshal and later became one of five deputy state fire marshals, investigating fires and fire-related deaths within a 100-mile radius of the Flathead Valley, spending most of his time in Eureka and Libby. He retired in 1983 at the rank of captain, after 27 years of service. After retiring he married his second wife, Marlene Adams, in 1988.

Gene was known for his beautiful carpentry work. He had built two family homes, a cabin, added on to another and remodeled many houses. The family will always treasure their memories of the times spent at the family cabin on Echo Lake.

He had been a member of the Montana Landlords Association for more than 35 years and was past state president and current president of the Flathead chapter, and was still active managing his rental properties in the Flathead Valley.

Ever since his 50th class reunion, Gene had enjoyed meeting monthly for lunch with his former classmates.

Gene was also active in the community with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Posse, the Roundup for Safety Committee for Flathead Electric, Evergreen Lions Club, Elks Lodge and Back Country Horsemen of the Flathead. He was also a lifetime member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margene; his parents; daughter, Janet, in 1963; and brother, Don “Lefty” Thompson.

Gene is survived by his loving and caring wife of 25 years, Marlene, of Kalispell; his children, Linda and Dave Smith of Kalispell, Scott and Jenn Thompson of Basalt, Colo., and Kent and Juliana Thompson of San Diego; stepchildren, Kim and Reggie Adams of Kalispell, Eyler and Karen Adams of Eureka, Lorie and Dave Lester of Butte and Gale Adams of Columbia Falls; 11 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; sister, Sandi Johnson, of Kalispell, brothers, David Thompson of Helena and Doug Thompson of Kalispell; sister-in-law, Donna Carie, of Lakeside; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Viewing for Gene will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 23, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Burial will immediately follow at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. A reception will take place afterward at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorials to be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or the charity of your choice.