Descendants sought for Kalispell baseball pioneer

Organizers of a dedication ceremony planned this spring for Thompson Memorial Park are looking for descendants of the Kalispell park’s namesake, John “Gus” Thompson.

Thompson, a longtime Kalispell businessman, had pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first World Series in 1903. He died March 28, 1958, in Kalispell.

The dedication of the park — formerly named Eastside Park — is being organized by the Friends of Thompson Field in conjunction with the city of Kalispell Parks and Recreation Department, with help from the Kalispell Pee Wee Baseball League.

Betsy Wood said she is trying to find descendants of Gus Thompson who may be able to attend the dedication of the park and baseball field. The park complex once was named Thompson Field but later became Eastside Park. In December 2013 the Kalispell City Council renamed it Thompson Memorial Park.

Thompson’s full name was John Gustav Thompson.

“We know he had a son who went by the initials B. F., which we think stands for Burton F.,” Wood said in an email. “He had a daughter named Iola. We also know that B.F. owned a clothing store in Kellogg, Idaho, and is buried there, but have struck out in finding any information from anyone in that area. We have no idea if or who Iola married or where she may have lived most of her adult life.”

Thompson married Edna Knapp of Kalispell, who received the first diploma awarded to the first graduating class of Flathead County High School. He owned and operated a cigar store and pool hall at 140 Main St., the historic Pastime Bar building where Think Local now is located.

Thompson also organized and managed a semi-pro baseball team in Kalispell for many years and was an avid supporter of youth baseball, according to Wood. He is buried in the Conrad Memorial Cemetery, having passed away as the only surviving player from either of the first World Series teams, in 1958.

Anyone who knows about descendants of Thompson is encouraged to call Wood at 752-0605.