Van B Thomson

Van B. Thomson, 85, loving husband, father, grandfather and brother, of Menan, Idaho returned home to his Heavenly Father, February 27th, 2016 at his home of natural causes. Van was born September 9th 1930 in Rexburg, Idaho a son to Royle Swaintson Thomson and Mary Leora Beck Thomson. He grew up in Moody and attended school in Moody and Sugar Salem. He attended Ricks College studying animal husbandry. In 1949 he served an LDS Mission to Texas Louisiana. He married the love of his life Macel Lavon Rasmussen on October 21st 1953 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They started their life together in the Hibbard area where he milked cows. They moved to Ucon where he worked on a farm. In 1959 he started his career for Cache Valley/Select Sires taking his family to Menan. He earned his 20 year pin with that company in 1979. He was an honorary member of Jefferson County F.F.A. After leaving Select Sires he drove fuel truck for Menan Co-op. On 17 February 1981 he was involved in a serious accident with the fuel truck. He then moved on to Bowen Petroleum in 1985 driving fuel truck until 2000. He served an LDS Mission with his sweetheart in the Manila Philippines Temple. Returning from the mission in 2002 he went back to work for Bowen Petroleum. He retired 18 months later and he and Macel served a second mission to Olongapo Philippines mission from 2003-2004. When they returned they served in the Idaho Falls and Rexburg Temples until his passing. He loved his family, helping others, horses, cattle, huckleberry picking, reading, studying and the Gospel and he particularly loved working in his large acre garden which included his row of sunflowers. He loved being outdoors, in his later years he would sit and watch his cattle from the swing. Van is survived by his wife Macel Lavon Thomson of Menan, six daughters; Elaine (Dick) Jorgenson of Peoa, Utah, Brenda Stoddard of Menan, Tamy (Craig) Rogers of Bethel, Alaska, Trina (David) Woods of Rigby, ReNae Woods of Nampa, Idaho, Cherilyn Thomson of Idaho Falls, four sons; Russell Thomson of Rexburg, Ray (Denise) Thomson of Rigby, Ross (Megumi) Thomson of Waconia, Minnesota, Blake (Laurie) Thomson of Ucon, one sister Judy Thomson of Sugar City, Idaho, 38 grandchildren and 46 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Mary Ann Mariano, three brothers, John, Roy and Tim, three grandchildren; Michael Christopher Foote, Randy James Thomson and Rebecca Kay Merrill and a great grandchild, Brianna Lavon Gould. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 2nd at the Menan 2nd Ward LDS Chapel on Main Street. A viewing will be held at the Menan LDS Church on Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. The family will also receive friends from 10:00 a.m.-10:45a.m. Wednesday prior to services at the church. Burial will be at the Annis Little Butte Cemetery under the care of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby.