Rhinos foundation
Peggy Thompson
1946-2021
Peggy Jane Thompson, age 75 of River Falls, Wisconsin passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer on December 21, 2021 at the Comforts of Home in River Falls. Peggy was born on January 7, 1946 in Frederic Wisconsin to William and Irene Matz. She attended and graduated from Frederic High School. After graduation, Peggy moved to Minneapolis and worked at the First National Bank of Minneapolis. She married Albert Woods in September of 1964. They were blessed with their daughter, Samantha, in April of 1968. Peggy later married Wayne Thompson in June of 1973 and became a stepmother to four children, Bryan, Craig, Tracy and Karri. Peggy and Wayne enjoyed many years together going to their lake home and traveling until Wayne’s death in 2012. Peggy retired from the First National Bank of River Falls in August 2014. After retirement, she enjoyed volunteering and assisting at her daughter’s cake shop when needed. She also loved to play cards, read, attend bible study at her church and bake cookies and lemon bars for her family. Spending time with friends and family was such a blessing to her.
Peggy will remain in the hearts of her children, Bryan (Michele) Thompson, Craig (Julie) Thompson, Tracy (Chad) Larson, Karri (Keith) Van Dell and Samantha (Michael) Cain. Grandchildren, Jeremy Thompson, Zachary (Sarah) Toland, Kyle (Michaela) Thompson, Kevin (Brittany) Thompson, Bailey (David) Toland Dressler, Heidi (Mason) Wilhelmy, Katie Thompson, Miranda Van Dell, Emma Van Dell, Gabrielle Van Dell and Lexi Larson. Great Grandchildren, Darla Thompson, Clara Thompson, Linden Thompson, Murphy Wilhelmy, Jack Toland and Zoey Para. Siblings, Carol (Ken) Nelson, Judy Hagert, Richard Matz, Faye (Bob) Tietz, Michael (Mary) Matz, sister in-law Sonja Rutcosky and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Peggy was preceded in death by her parents William and Irene Matz, beloved husband Wayne Thompson, grandson Joshua Thompson, brother and sister in-law Gary and Carol Matz and brother in-law John Hagert.
Rhinos foundation
In HONOR of Steffani Falardeaux
So the doctor congratulates you on the birth your beautiful healthy baby girl. At that moment in time you cannot possibly be more filled with pride and joy.
She grows. Two weeks into her second grade school year, you escort her into her classroom because for some reason, that morning, she needed you by her side. In high school, you leave work early because she forgot her track shoes and the bus is about to leave the school parking lot. As a young adult you pick her up, stalled along side the interstate on a cold winter night, because she ran out of gas – again. You look back on this time and smile because you know, “She needs me.”
Then the day comes when this beautiful, mature, young woman has to make the difficult call to her Mother, and inform her Mother that she has been diagnosed with cancer. What do you do? You run out and buy pink breast cancer t-shirts for everyone in the family . . . because you realize that picking out which pink t-shirt you will buy seems to be the only thing left in your world over which you have any control.
You watch this joy of your life empower herself, making hard choices only she can make. You sit with her at the chemo clinic and watch as she calmly addresses the Christmas cards she plans to send. You accompany her as she picks out hats and scarves to keep her “mellon” warm over the approaching winter. But most poignantly, you admire her as she manages the fears and uncertainties of her 6 year-old daughter and 9 year-old son. As she assures them everything will be fine. That she will be fine. It is at this point that the swell of pride you felt when she was first born, becomes just a flicker of what you now feel toward this amazing woman now facing you.
Steffani has challenged all of this without complaint, without self-pity, and without letting her cancer define her life. She has continued her work for children with autism, obtained her master’s degree, participated in the Angel’s Foundation fashion show, three times, and volunteered with Rhinos. She is now a seven year survivor. It is to this woman that Brian and I want to honor, pay tribute and share with the rest of you. We love you Steffani.
