Laura Elizabeth Thomson

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Laura Thomson, 90. She passed away peacefully in her home in Anaconda, MT on February 09, 2026 and is now with her hubby in heaven. Laura was born in Helena, MT on September 11, 1935, the second of three children born to Ralph and Una (Brown) Ward. Her Dad was an agricultural economist, which meant the family moved frequently as he worked with universities to help solve community needs. They moved from Helena to Bozeman when Laura was a baby and then to Lincoln, NE where she attended all of grade school and met lifelong friends. She learned to play the piano and violin growing up and also loved to ride horses, especially when visiting her uncle’s ranch near Wolf Creek, MT. Her junior high years were back in Bozeman and Billings before the family moved to Turkey where she spent her sophomore and junior years of high school. She returned to Billings for her senior year of high school before leaving for college at Montana State University in 1953. While at MSU, Laura joined the Pi Beta Phi sorority, studied education, made many good friends and became a lifelong Bobcat fan. She graduated from MSU in 1957 with a degree in education and moved to Anaconda to begin teaching home economics at Anaconda High School. On August 6, 1960, Laura married John (Yonko) Thomson who she had met after moving to Anaconda. She put her teaching career on hold soon after as she and John began having a family. Laura and John had four children, Jim, Bob, Pat, and Suz over the span of 4 ½ years. She taught evening adult education courses in home economics when the children were young and put this education and skill to work in her own home, making the family great meals, managing the finances, and also sewing many clothes and gifts. Laura went back to teaching full-time in 1972 when the children were all of school age. She taught kindergarten for many years at Washington Grade School followed by being a resource teacher until she retired in 1996. She was a fantastic wife and mother, always making sure the family was well cared for. She was always there for the kids and grandkids to make something fun to eat, play a fun game, or tell a joke (knock knock jokes in particular). An avid reader for much of her life, she was knowledgeable on many subjects, especially health where she was a wealth of knowledge on eating well. Retirement allowed Laura to do more with family and also to travel with John. They spent summers fishing and adventuring in Alaska for over 30 years where they made numerous new friends and had family visit while there. She also loved to get together with friends for lunches or to workout together. Laura was one of the easiest people to be around, a great listener, and known to be empathetic, often offering non-judgmental support. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh – sometimes getting the giggles. She was an active member of the Anaconda Catholic Community where she consistently attended mass and worked bereavement lunches. Laura was preceded in death by her parents noted earlier, her husband John, and her sister Lois Meuli. She is survived by her sister Barbara Starch of Denver, CO, her children Jim (Tricia) of Redmond, WA, Bob (Trina) of Kalispell, Pat (Amy) of Butte, and Susanne (Mark) Dauenhauer of Butte. Her ten grandchildren Aubree (John) Hopper, Cierra (Marshall) Metcalf, Marki (Jesse) Bouffiou, Lexia Dauenhauer (Alex Cadieux), Ryan Thomson (Hannah Duerst), Patrick Thomson, Jack Thomson (Emily Kelly), Kaylee (Ryan) Buswell, Addie Thomson, and Isla Thomson. Four great grandchildren, Broadus Buswell, Ryka Buswell, Peyton Hopper, and Parker Hopper. She also has numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, having been part of a large family. Services will be held March 6, 2026 with family accepting friends and relatives beginning at 9:30 am with a funeral mass starting at 10:30 am at Holy Family Catholic Church in Anaconda, MT. A luncheon at Holy Family Church will follow the mass and burial will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery in the afternoon. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home in Butte. The family would like to thank the staff at Pintler Hospice for their care, support, and love for both Laura and John. Donations can be made to the Anaconda Catholic Community, Anaconda Restoration Association, or the donor’s choice. Knock Knock, Who’s there? Honeydew, Honeydew Who? Honey, do you know how much I love you.

Tributes

Laura Elizabeth Thomson

September 11, 1935 - February 9, 2026