Michele Thompson

Michele “Mica” Thompson, age 56, of Calmar, Iowa, died on Sunday, March 24, 2024, at WinnMed Hospital in Decorah, IA. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 1, 2024, at the Calmar Lutheran Church with Bishop Kevin Jones officiating. Visitation will be from 2:00-5:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 31, 2024, at the Calmar Lutheran Church and also after 10:00 a.m. at the church Monday morning. The Helms Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Michele Jean Thompson was born on September 18, 1967, in Winona, MN. She is the daughter of Llewellyn and Nancy (Laumb) Benson. Michele attended Rushford Schools until graduating from Rushford High School in 1986. Following high school, she attended Winona State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Michele married Mark Olson, and to this union three children were born: Shauma, Jeremy, and Tanner. Michele and Mark were later divorced. Michele worked in many places including Fortress Bank, Youngquist Family Law Firm, Farmers Elevator, Houston County Women’s Resource Center, Good Shepherd Home, and Valleyview Nursing Home. She found her true calling at Camp Winnebago, a camp for developmentally disabled adults. Michele married Rev. Daryl Thompson on February 18, 2013. Together, they loved travelling and vacationing at their getaway homes in the Cayman Islands and Apache Junction, Arizona. Not only did they join mission trips to Puerto Rico and Cuba, but they were able to fulfill a lifelong dream of traveling to Norway and all of Scandinavia this past summer with the Luren Singing Society. Michele was also an accomplished wilderness canoer and scuba diver with advanced ratings. Family was everything to Michele. Her mom, children, grandchildren, and loving husband were her world. Michele is survived by her husband, Rev. Daryl Thompson. Her two sons; Jeremy (Jeanne Olstad) Olson and Tanner Olson. Grandchildren: Grace Meyer, Sophie Joe Meyer, Charlie Meyer, and George Meyer. Mother: Nancy Benson. Sister: Renee Bergo. Nieces: Thea Kennedy, Chloe Bergo, and Kylie Bergo. Son-in-law: Brad Meyer. Step-children: Rodney (Patricia) Thompson, Michael (Bettina) Thompson, Eric (Mindy) Thompson, eleven step-grandchildren, and six step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Shauma Meyer. Father: Llewellyn Benson, and many more family members who will greet her with open arms in heaven.