Mina Jane Morrow Thompson passed away on Monday, March 27, 2023, at 88.
Mina was born to Gladys and Edward Morrow on Dec. 21, 1934, in Brimson, Missouri. With Mina’s parents working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and teaching on the reservations, Mina grew up and went to school on the reservations before going to boarding school in Wasatch, Utah, where she graduated from high school. Mina attended Arizona State at Flagstaff to study elementary education. That’s where she met the love of her life, Lyle Thompson. They married in 1955; by 1956 each held B.A. degrees and they welcomed their first child, Lon. Mina’s first teaching job was in San Carlos, where she taught first, second, and third graders in a single room in a store on the reservation for a total of 8 years. She had the pleasure of working alongside her mother who taught there, as well as her father who was the principal. She enjoyed a few years at home as they welcomed their second boy, Dean, third boy, Bart, and their youngest and only girl, Lori. Mina then went on to teach a little more at San Carlos and then accepted a position as a first-grade teacher with the Globe School District at the old East High School, where she taught for 19 years. Mina helped shape the minds of so many young students. Education was something that she was natural at and very important to her; her students appreciated the care and intention she put into teaching and always really loved her. She made such a difference in the lives of so many young people in the community.
“Once a teacher, always a teacher.” At 55, after retiring from teaching first grade, she continued to teach genealogy through the LDS Church. For 20 years, Mina dedicated her life to genealogy.
“Maybe the blessings now I have received don’t show to others, but I have been blessed. I love finding out about my ancestors and I receive a real feeling of satisfaction when I am able to have them baptized, endowed and sealed to their parents and one another in marriage,” Mina wrote in her journal.
Along with genealogy and temple work, Mina enjoyed spending time with a group of her teacher friends after retirement, going to Diamondback baseball games and play performances in the Valley.
Lyle and Mina celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary this past September. What an amazing and full life they’ve lived together. They are cherished by their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They each played such an important part of their family’s upbringing with fond memories of amazing trips together, buying first cars, attending sports games, graduations and weddings. They were the epitome of love, setting an amazing example of what marriage should be and how to support those you care about. Through loss and love, these two have stood by each other and created an incredible life.
Mina is welcomed to heaven by her parents, Gladys and Edward Morrow, her 3 sons Lon, Dean and Bart, her grandsons David and Nick Thompson, and her niece Stacey Morrow.
She is survived by her husband, Lyle, daughter Lori, brother Eddie Mac (Kathy) Morrow, 7 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
Services for Mina Thompson will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1701 N. US Hwy. 60, Globe, on Saturday, April 15, 2023 with a viewing at 1 p.m., services at 2 p.m. and luncheon to follow.
