Obit: Thompson, Ronald John (1940 - 1969)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Thompson, Climber, Dittmer, Porter, Whiterabbit

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 10/23/1969

Thompson, Ronald John (21 August 1940 - 12 October 1969)

Ronald John Thompson, 29, of Los Angeles, Calif., and formerly of Dells Dam, died there in an apartment house fire October 12, as did his wife, Ina.

Mr. Thompson was born August 21, 1940, in Fairchild, to Hershal and Bertha (Climber) Thompson.

Survivors include two sisters, Mrs. Janet Dittmer of North Africa, and Gloria Thompson of Melrose; and three brothers, Jeffery stationed in Vietnam, Wayne, in West Virginia and John in Melrose.

Funeral services were held Monday at 1:30 p.m. from the Thompson home at Dells Dam. The Rev. Mitchell Whiterabbit officiated. Burial was made in the Dells Dam Indian Cemetery.

Mr. Thompson was a member of the Winnebago Veterans association. Military rites were conducted by them at the cemetery.

In Los Angeles, Thompson went by the name of Anthony Porter. When firemen reached the third floor apartment in which the Thompsons (Porters) were found, they also found their son, Anthony, Jr., six, lying between them. At first they thought he, too, was dead, but then noticed a slight movement. The boy was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and was carried from the building. A mechanical respirator was applied, and he was reported in good condition.

In all, eight persons were killed in the blaze which swept the 40-year-old wooden apartment dwelling. Thirty other residents escaped by leaping from windows, or were carried down ladders to safety. Seven other persons were injured, most of them when they jumped to safety.