Irene Bernice (Case) Thompson

Irene Bernice (Case) Thompson, age 88, of Mankato, died Thursday, January 30, 2020 at Pathstone Crossing in Mankato.

Memorial service will be held at 11am, Saturday, February 8, 2020 at Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary with visitation one hour prior. A reception will follow at Northview, and burial will take place at a later date at Garden City Cemetery. Please share a memory of Irene with her family at www.mankatomortuary.com.

Memorials may be given to the Garden City Cemetery Association or Society for the Blind. 

Irene was born September 25, 1931 in Mankato, the first of four children, to Harold and Bernice (Palmby) Case. She was raised on her parents’ farm near Garden City. After graduating from Garden City School, Irene attended St. Lucas Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in Faribault. While in nursing school, she began dating Kenneth Thompson from Amboy, and they were married April 6, 1952. Irene and Ken raised their five children while working and living in Minnesota and Ohio. 

Early in her marriage, Irene worked as a RN at Northwestern Hospital and the University of Minnesota. In the mid-60s, Irene returned to work at New Hope Nursing Home (North Ridge Care Center), in different capacities while they raised their family. As the nest emptied, Irene and Ken started planning a return to their country roots. They built a geodesic dome across the road from her childhood home and farmed for 25 years. Irene put her nursing skills to work, especially during lambing.

Irene was active in church, especially at Valley View and Garden City Christian Church(es). She also served her church on a regional level. Locally, she volunteered at G.R.A.C.E. in Lake Crystal and in many other areas. She was a generous hostess, gifted seamstress, accomplished gardener, a dear friend, and a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and grandmother.  

Irene is survived by her husband of 67 years, Ken Thompson of Mankato; son, Mark (Nancy) Thompson of Bloomington; daughter, Laurie (Jon Loe) Thompson of Denver, CO; son, Peter (Michele) Thompson of Crawfordsville, IN; daughter, Shelley (Martin) Leenhouts of Garden City; and son, Jonathan (Karen) Thompson of Chisholm; ten grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; brother, Lee Case; sister, Florence (Albert) Gustafson; sister-in-law, Susan (Ralph) Farnsworth; and many beloved nieces and nephews. 

Irene was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Paul Case; sisters-in-law, Carolyn Case and Joyce Case; and brothers-in-law, James Thompson and David Ray Thompson.