Bonnita Joy Thompson

Bonnita Joy Thompson (Fecht) passed away peacefully, March 13 at her home in Fountain Hills after a valiant struggle with COPD and lung cancer.

She was born in Gothenburg, Neb. Nov. 11, 1939 to John and Ethel Fecht (Shaffer). In 1955 the family moved to Burns, Ore. where she graduated from High School. She married Dennis Thompson on June 5, 1958 and together they had two children.

The family moved often first in the military and later for business purposes living literally from coast to coast plus Guam, settling finally in Fountain Hills which she loved very much for the past 24 years.

Bonnita was a proud grandmother and great grandmother, loved music, reading, old movies, and was an active birder. She was preceded by her parents, brothers, Keith Fecht and Don Fecht; sisters in law, Betty Fecht, Bernadine Fecht and Marilyn Fecht.

She is survived by her husband, Dennis; daughter, Debra Rompel (Lance) of South Elgin, Ill.; son, Douglas (Elizabeth) of Elmhurst, Ill.; grandchildren, Michael Valent, McClure, Pa., Ryan Rompel South Elgin, Ill., Zach Rompel South Elgin, Ill., Sam Thompson, Oak Park Ill.; and great grandchildren, Phoenix Valent and Helena Valent; her sisters, Corinne Sappingfield, (Carol) Gothenburg, Neb. Lorene Billington (Dan), Folkston, Ga.; brother, John B. Fecht (Marlene) Yakima, Wash.; her sister in law, Reta Severtson, Fountain Hills; plus many nieces and nephews.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a memorial to the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, N.Y. or their favorite Library. A memorial Service will be held at a later date with inurnment to be at the Prescott National Cemetery, Prescott, Ariz. Arrangements by Messinger Mortuaries, Fountain Hills.