H. Marie Thompson

Come unto me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Matt. 11:28

H. Marie Thompson responded to her Lord’s calling on Monday, February 1, 2010. Marie was born to Christian and May (Thompson) Johnson on May 12, 1920. She was the first and only daughter of Chris and May. Six years later, on May 11, 1926, her one and only brother, Robert (Bob) joined the family circle. She attended St. John’s Lutheran School and Portage High School, graduating with honors in the class of 1937.

In the early years of Marie’s life she was active in her church, serving as a member of the young peoples’ society of that time, singing both in the choir and a ladies sextet, as well as serving as a Sunday School teacher. She was also active in the Junior Chamber of Commerce and Junior Civic League of Portage.

She chose dental assisting for her main life work, being associated with Dr. W. F. Royce for close to thirty-seven years. During the two years that he served his country during WWII, she worked as a dental assistant in the Oral Surgery Department in one of the two clinics at Truax Field in Madison.

Soon after she started working there, she joined the Dane County Dental Assistants and held the office of president of the group. She was also a member of the Wisconsin State Dental Assistants, where she held various offices, including that of treasurer, secretary and president.

The year that she was president of the Wisconsin State Dental Assistants they had a membership drive and increased the membership by 110%. That same year she was elected as Sixth District Trustee of the American Dental Assistants Association. This led, in future years, to being elected president after having served as third, second, and first vice president.

The ‘theme’ for the year she was president of the ADAA was “Work Just a Little More”; which is exactly what she and others did, and were successful in having the words ‘white women’ removed from the constitution and a total revision of the by-laws. This opened the door for others, not only women, such that the organization now has an affiliate of assistants, both men and women, serving various armed forces.

After she served eight years on that national board she was elected as a member of their Certifying Board, serving seven years on that – two as chairman. This was the board that laid the groundwork for formal courses in schools for the position of dental assistant. The then governor of Wisconsin appointed her as a member of the committee which was to establish the first formal courses in Madison and other locations.

She served three years working with the American Dental Association Education board, traveling throughout the Midwest approving formal courses for assistants. Her associates bestowed on her the highest honor of the association – the “Achievement Award” in 1957. She was further honored with honorary memberships in both the Canadian and England dental assistant associations.

Having served on the school paper and the yearbook board in high school, Marie became very interested in journalism. This aided her in writing the “President’s Page” for the ADAA Journal. She edited the first Wisconsin State Dental Assistants’ Reporter publications and wrote articles for several other dental publications.

After her first marriage dissolved, she was busy in her single life with her work as a dental assistant. After Dr. Royce retired, Marie worked for Columbia County, first in micro-filming in the Commission on Aging department, and then as a receptionist in the John Roche building before her own retirement.

In 1998 she married Roy A. Thompson, a member of her high school graduating class. They lived in Decatur, Illinois for a short time before moving to Portage.

Days were never long enough for Marie with her many interests and hobbies. She loved books, traveling, needlepoint and handiwork - such as creating jewelry and crafts. She loved history, corresponding with numerous friends, and playing cards. But her greatest interests were her family, friends, church and her love of animals, especially dogs.

She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, a life member of the American Dental Assistants Association, a life member of the Wisconsin State Dental Assistants Association, a life member of the Past Presidents of the ADAA and a life member of the Past Presidents of the Wisconsin State Dental Assistants Association.

Her funeral will be held 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 3rd at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Portage, with visitation beginning at 2:30 at the church. She will be laid to rest in Silver Lake Cemetery beside her parents on Friday morning at a private interment.

She is survived by her devoted husband Roy and her loving brother Robert (Dorothy) Johnson of Portage;  also her beloved nieces Christine (Paul) Garchow, of Janesville, Nina (Henry) Schroeder, of Portage, and Janice (David) Wagner, of Elroy and many other dear friends and relatives.