Reverend Fred (Stanley) Thompson

Reverend (Stanley) Fred Thompson

September 13, 1927 ~ February 10, 2017

Reverend (Stanley) Fred Thompson went to be with his Lord and Savior on February 10, 2017,

with his wife, Dot, at his side. He was a generous, giving, kind and loving husband and father

and shepherd to his congregations. The many whose lives he blessed will miss him.

Fred was born in Utopia, KS on September 13, 1927. He lived his early years in Kansas and

moved with his family to Colorado’s Western Slope when he was in the fifth grade. Fred attended

Grand Junction High School and graduated from Palisade High School in 1945.

Following graduation, Fred enlisted in the US Army, was trained as a Parachutist and served with

the occupation forces in Japan. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant at the end of

his enlistment.

On Easter Sunday, March 28, 1948, Fred married Dot (Dorothy Gillmore) at the First Baptist

Church of Grand Junction. They would have celebrated their 69th year of marriage this coming

March.

Following a short stint with the US Bureau of Reclamation, Fred re-enlisted with the US Army

and served as Recruiting Sergeant for two years, at which time he was again honorably

discharged. He continued his military service with the Army National Guard.

In 1963, he received his ordination in the American Baptist Church and served the Molina

Baptist Church as a part-time pastor while continuing his work as a self-employed home builder.

Fred retired from his military service in 1968 as a Major and returned to his work with the

American Baptist Churches serving as an Administrator of the denominationally owned Park

Avenue Baptist Nursing Home in Denver, CO until 1974. At this time, Fred returned to the

ministry–a job he so loved and for which he had great passion. He served the Hillcrest Baptist

Church in Arvada, CO for the next ten years until his relocation to Montrose in 1984. He served

as the Pastor of First Baptist Church in Montrose from 1984 until his retirement in 1991. He also

enjoyed many years as Camp Pastor and Camp Director of the Grand Mesa Baptist Assembly

Church camp at Barron Lake.

Fred loved watching the Denver Broncos Football Team, Colorado Rockies Baseball Team,

reading, gardening, and most of all, being surrounded by family at holidays and family

gatherings. He and Dot also loved trailering around the United States following his retirement.

Fred is survived by his lovely bride, Dot, of 68 years; six children: Scott (Patty) Thompson of

Fruita, CO; Kurt (Shonie) Thompson of Molina, CO; Krista Thompson of Montrose, CO; Kevin

(Cindy) Thompson of Montrose, CO; Kent (Tina) Thompson of Erbendorf, Germany; and Kelly

Thompson of Montrose, CO; 19 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; his sister, Melba

(Jack) Cutter of Longmont, CO and numerous nieces and nephews. Fred was preceded in death

by five brothers and one sister. Services will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, February 18th, at

Rosemont Baptist Church, 1598 Niagara Road, Montrose,

Memorial contributions can be made to Rosemont Baptist Church or HopeWest Hospice and

Palliative Care.  Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory of Montrose is assisting the family.