ERWIN HOLDEN THOMPSON

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ERWIN HOLDEN THOMPSON On Friday, November 24, 2000, at the Portage District Hospital with his family by his side, Erwin Holden Thompson, a longtime resident of the High Bluff and Portage la Prairie districts, beloved husband of Kathleen Thompson, passed away at the age of 85 years. Erwin was born on December 24, 1914, son of Joe and Janet Thompson, on the family farm at High Bluff. He was raised in the High Bluff District and attended the High Bluff School. For a short time he farmed with his parents before entering the trucking business, which he operated for several years. During these years he was instrumental in hauling the equipment and building supplies from the train in Portage to the building site at CFB Southport. As well as trucking, he started the Portage Garage which was also the White Rose Service Station and Repair Shop with his father-in-law Douglas Shackell. In 1945 they received the Chrysler Dealership and operated the business as Portage Garage now known as Portage Chrysler. In the 1960s he purchased a farm in the High Bluff District which he farmed for ten years as well as being involved at the Portage Garage. In 1973 he was involved with his son Dennis and George Ryder in starting Portage Leisure Centre which is now known as Portage Toyota and R.V. Centre at the west end of Portage. Even after his semi-retirement, he maintained a keen interest in the dealership and was always there to help out whenever possible. Erwin was a longtime active member of the B.P.O.E. Lodge #32. In his earlier years, he had a keen interest in farming and agriculture which prompted him to purchase the farm in the 1960s. He also enjoyed gardening and keeping his yard and home. His main interest was always in the operation of Portage Garage (Portage Chrysler) which he maintained until his illness. Predeceased by his son-in-law Richard Blake of Gimli; grandson Dennis R. Thompson of Portage la Prairie; sister and brother-in-law Muriel and Don Smith of Chilliwack, B.C., he leaves to mourn his passing his wife Kathleen Thompson of Douglas Campbell Lodge; son Dennis Thompson and wife Katherine of Portage la Prairie; daughter Linda Blake of Lake of the Woods, Ont.; grandchildren, Douglas (Jill) Thompson of Portage, Richard Blake of Whistler, B.C., Robert (Georgette) Metcalfe of Birken, B.C., and six great-grandchildren. Funeral service will be held in the Chapel of the Omega Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 28, at 1:30 p.m. with Reverend Steve Wilson officiating. Interment will follow in the family plot at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. Should friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to the Central Plains Cancer Care Services, 319 Saskatchewan Ave. E., Portage la Prairie, Man., R1N 0K8, or the Portage and District Foundation Inc., Box 1153, Portage la Prairie, Man., R1N 3J9. The Omega Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements. Friends may visit the website www.legacy.com "Where life stories live on" and leave a message or sign the register book.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 25, 2000