Gene Thompson Obituary Gene Smith Thompson was born on September 9, 1937, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to John Edmund and Luella Smith Thompson. He spent most of his childhood in Blackfoot, Idaho. He was the 7th in a family of 8 children. Hard work and sacrifice were core values he learned from being raised on a small dairy farm in post-depression times. He graduated from Blackfoot High School in 1956 and began his enlistment in the Air Force the day after he graduated. The day he returned from his military service; his dad took him down to the Co-op to meet a cute young gal that he knew. He was immediately smitten and married Phillis Nickerson on September 16, 1960. She became the anchor of his life. There wasnt anything he wouldnt do for Mom . . . to include dressing in matching outfits and square dancing! Can you imagine?! He loved her passionately his entire life, and everyone knew it. After being married, they moved to Salt Lake City for a short time, where their first child, Gordon, was born. After moving back to Blackfoot to help again with the family farm, their second child, Philene, was born. Their third child, Rodney, soon followed, and shortly thereafter Gene moved his family to Nampa to begin work for Bryce Millar as foreman of a large agricultural farm. During this time, their fourth child, LaVar, was born. His life spanned an impressive era of growth and learning . . . beginning with driving a horse-drawn plow and ending with high-tech machinery and tools. We always knew that there wasnt anything Dad couldnt do. Genes passion for cars as a young man was something he carried throughout his life. He went from drag-racing the family car on the Salt Flats to building several cars that he raced very competitively at Meridian Speedway. The entire family got involved and looked forward to family time and cheering for Dad at the race track. In 1975, they moved to Las Vegas to begin a new chapter. It was here that Gene discovered his talent and love for carpentry and operating a backhoe. He worked with his brother, Jim, constructing homes and learned all of the trades of home building. In 1979, he brought his knowledge and trades back to Nampa where he began his own successful backhoe business. This, too, was a family venture. Mom drove the dump truck and she and the kids helped shoot grade and work a shovel. Dad always included us in his work, which was invaluable in passing his knowledge and skills on. His "can do" attitude was contagious. In 1993 he fulfilled his life-long dream of serving a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Jersey with his very favorite companion -- Mom. Despite numerous health challenges, his love of service was key. He could always be found serving and helping others. He was a quiet giant . . . a man of few words but spoke volumes through his actions. He took pride in his work, always making sure it was his very best, or at least "good enough for who its for." Dad passed away at home on Sunday, October 27, 2024, reuniting with his sons Gordon and Rodney who had preceded him in death, along with his parents and five siblings. He is survived by Phillis, his wife of 64 years, a sister, Charlotte Jones, a brother, Jim Thompson, his daughter, Philene (Jerry) Lewis and his son, LaVar (Sharon) Thompson. He is a beloved grandfather to 12 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and two more soon to arrive. We will all miss him desperately! Funeral services are under the direction of Nampa Funeral Home Yraguen Chapel in Nampa and will be held at the LDS chapel on Happy Valley Road in Nampa, Idaho, on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 12 noon, with a viewing just prior beginning at 11:00 am. There will also be a viewing at the Nampa Funeral Home on Friday evening (November 1) from 6-7 pm. Interment will follow at the Kohlerlawn Cemetery in Nampa, Idaho. Live streaming available at https://zoom.us/j/98964470340 Services Visitation Friday November 1, 2024 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM Nampa Funeral Home 415 12th Ave. So. Nampa, Idaho 83651 Visitation Saturday November 2, 2024 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Happy Valley Road LDS Church 88 S. Happy Valley Road Nampa, ID 83687 Funeral Service Saturday November 2, 2024 12:00 PM Happy Valley Road LDS Church 88 S. Happy Valley Road Nampa, ID 83687 Interment following funeral service Saturday November 2, 2024 Kohlerlawn Cemetery 76 6th Street North Nampa, Idaho 83687