Rita M. Thompson

Rita Mary DeVader Lee Thompson, 90 of Wamego, KS, formerly of Topeka, KS, died February 18, 2015 at the Wamego Health Center. She has lived at Vintage Park in Wamego for the past eight years. She was born August 28, 1924 at Emmett, KS, the daughter of Alfred John and Emma Marie (Homan) DeVader. She graduated from Holy Cross Grade School in Emmett and Immaculate Conception High School in Las Vegas, NM, in 1942. She attended St. Mary College at Leavenworth, KS and graduated from St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in 1945. She served as a Cadet Nurse in the Army Nurse Corps, stationed at Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Denver, CO. Upon discharge she joined the Veterans Administration Hospital and served in Dayton, OH and Topeka. She was a Chief Nurse of the Meadows Hospital in Las Vegas, NM, which she helped found for welfare patients for the New Mexico Department of Social Services. Later she was employed at St. Joseph Hospital, Kansas City, MO. She retired from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas. She had traveled to all fifty states. She enjoyed researching her Belgian and Volga German ancestry. She loved knitting patterns and afghans. She married Lorence Orville Thompson at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Topeka. He preceded her in death. Rita is survived by a son and family, Lawrence and Sally Lee of Wamego, KS, and grandchildren Brent Lee of Lawrence, KS and Holly and Jermaine Youmans of Seattle, WA and two sisters and inlaws, Joseph and Roberta Baumchen of Emmett, KS and Dale and Delores Smith of Topeka. She is also survived by nieces and nephews. She has bequeathed her body to Kansas University School of Medicine. Inurnment will be at a later date at Mount Calvary Cemetery, St. Marys, KS. The family requests memorial contributions may be made to Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church for masses, sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603. Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.brennanmathenafh.com.