Obituary
Leona Belle (Sloey) Barnes Thompson

Leona Belle Thompson was born to James and Clara Belle (Allen) Sloey on July 27, 1910, at Belvidere, Nebraska. She passed away on October 11, 1995, at the Fillmore County Hospital in Geneva, Nebraska, at the age of 85 years 2 months and 15 days. She was one of five children in the family.

Leona attended and graduated from the Belvidere High School with the Class of 1927. She attended Lincoln School of Commerce. Returning to Belvidere, she was employed as a clerk at the Belvidere Post Office. She later was employed as a stenographer and case worker in the county social service office, until October of 1945. She then assisted her husband in publishing the Bruning Banner until 1964, when they sold the newspaper. Leona was acting Village Clerk for the Bruning community for 25 years.

She was married to W. Wayne Thompson of Bruning on July 4, 1936.

Leona was a member of the Bruning Methodist Church for nearly fifty years and during this time shared her musical talents by serving as organist and pianist for nearly twenty-five years. She helped in organizing the Bruning American Legion Auxiliary in 1946, and served as the first president. In years past, she enjoyed bowling and was a member of a women's bowling team and also belonged to bridge clubs and the Women's Club. She grew up in a time when dancing was a great enjoyment for all in the area. For seven years she was at the piano with the local Mickey Kull Rhythmaires Band, which played for many dances over a wide area in the 1940's and 1950's.

Preceding Leona in death were her parents, James and Clara Belle Sloey; sister, Ailene Todd; brothers, Bernard Sloey and infant brother, Little Jim.

Surviving are husband, W. Wayne Thompson of Bruning; daughter Betty L. McPherson of Wilmington, CA; brother Jack Sloey of Hawthorne, CA; granddaughter, Kathryn Smith of Kent, WA; grandson, Dr. Scott McPherson of Lincoln, NE; seven great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted from the United Methodist Church in Bruning at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 14, 1995, with Rev. Steve Marsh officiating. Mrs. Vivian Uden accompanied Mabel Hogeland and Steve Marsh who sang a duet "I Walked Where Jesus Walked Today". Congregational hymn was "In The Garden". Those serving as pallbearers were; Wayne Bowman, Bruce Doll, Marlyn Huber, Robert Lauenstein, Harold Uden and Warren Williams. Interment was in the Belvidere Cemetery with the Farmer & Son Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Memorials were directed to the United Methodist Church in Bruning.
 

Obituary
William Wayne Thompson

William Wayne Thompson, the son of Herbert Martin and Lena Birdella (Zong) Thompson, was born April 1, 1908 at Belvidere, Nebraska. He died Thursday, September 21, 2000 at Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 92 years, 5 months and 20 days.

Wayne, at an early age, moved with his family to a ranch between Naper and Butte, Nebraska. Wayne attended and graduated from Butte High School in 1925. In the 1930's, the family returned to the Belvidere area. Wayne was united in marriage to Leona Belle (Sloey) Barnes on July 4, 1936 at Belleville, Kansas.

Wayne learned  newspapering at Hebron, Nebraska and he and Leona purchased the Bruning Banner in Bruning, Nebraska. They closed the paper starting 1943 for 25 months while Wayne served in the United States Army during World War II  in the European theater.  Wayne received the combat infantrymen badge and was a survivor of the Battle of the Bulge. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1945 and received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star upon his discharge.

Wayne and Leona reopened the Bruning Banner and published the paper for a total of 28 years and then sold the paper in 1964. Wayne  served as Bruning Postmaster for 14 years and retired on December 30, 1977.

Wayne was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Bruning. He was a member of Durham-Mammen Post No. 116 American Legion of Bruning, Nebraska, a life member of Goldstar Post No. 5328 Veterans of Foreign Wars of Hebron, Nebraska. He was a former member of the Bruning Town Board and former member of the Bruning Volunteer Fire Department. He was the official weather reporter for the town of Bruning.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Lena Thompson; his beloved wife, Leona, in October 1995; one brother Harold Thompson; and one sister, Virginia (Thompson) Barkmeier.

He is survived by a step daughter, Betty McPherson of Wilmington, California; two grandchildren, Dr. Scott McPherson and wife Marilee of Lincoln Nebraska and Kathryn Smith and husband John of Seattle, Washington; seven great grandchildren, Nathan Smith, Brandon Smith, Elizabeth McPherson, Rebecca McPherson, Christine McPherson, Erin McPherson and Deborah McPherson; one sister, Vivian (Thompson) Caples Eickhoff of Kansas City, Missouri.

Funeral services were held Monday, September 25, 2000 at the United Methodist Church in Bruning, Nebraska with the Reverend Lila Bottolfson officiating. Interment was held at the Belvidere Cemetery in Belvidere, Nebraska, with military graveside services conducted by Durham-Mammen Post 116 of Bruning, Nebraska in charge.

Organist for the service was Mrs. Joan Langhorst and the congregation sang "This is My Fathers World" and "In the Garden."

Honorary casket bearer was Ray Livengood. Casket bearers were Wayne Bowman, Warren Williams, Bruce Doll, Cliford Philippi, Forrest Schrock and Robert Lauenstein.

Services were conducted by the Bruning Funeral Home, Bruning, Nebraska.