Funeral services for Loretta I. Thompson, 64, of Reliance will be Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the Lower Brule Community Center in Lower Brule. Burial of the ashes will be at a later date in St. Alban's Cemetery at Fort Hale Bottom. Visitation will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Friday with a wake service at 7:00 p.m. at the Hickey Funeral Chapel in Chamberlain.

Loretta Ilene Hamer was born July 14, 1947 at Presho, SD to Burdette and Edna (Studt) Hamer. She grew up south of Kennebec on the family farm. She attended school in Kennebec and graduated from Kennebec High School in 1965. On August 27, 1965, Loretta was united in marriage to Clarence Thompson, Jr. at St. Alban's Church at Fort Hale, SD.

Loretta worked as a waitress at Houchin's (Jerry's Café), and the Bridgette and the Marina in Chamberlain. She also worked as a school bus driver for eight years, in the bakery at Al's Oasis, and at the Wells Fargo Bank in Lower Brule.
She loved spending time with her children and especially her grandchildren. She enjoyed playing bingo, crocheting, gardening, and visiting with friends.

Loretta passed away on January 21, 2012 at her home in Fort Hale Bottom at the age of 64 years. Gratefully sharing her life are her husband Clarence "Junior" Thompson, Jr. of Fort Hale Bottom; two sons Travis Thompson and Misty of Reliance and Richard Thompson of Sioux Falls; three brothers Charles Hamer and Susan, Chester Hamer and Teresa, and Kenneth Hamer and Diane all of Kennebec; two sisters Lillian Seamans and David of Draper, SD, and Bernice Klein and Jerry of Gregory; four grandchildren Sierra, Riley, Derrek, and Weston; four step grandchildren Melissa, Michael, Emily, and Kolby; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents and numerous aunts and uncles.