Helene Margarete Thompson

Helene Margarete (Leni) Thompson of San Angelo, Texas passed away May 30, 2025, in San Angelo, Texas at the age of 96. Leni was born in Witzenhausen, Germany March 13, 1929, to Jakob and Karoline Wenderoth. She was the oldest of 7 children. Leni met Dale, the love of her life, in Germany where Dale was serving during World War II. After marriage, Leni and Dale settled on a farm in Runnels County, Texas near the Maverick Community. They raised 5 beautiful children: Marvin Thompson, Manfred Thompson, Donnie Thompson, Norma Thompson, and Marla Percifull. Leni and Dale were blessed with 14 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

Dale preceded Leni in death in 2023. She is survived by her children: Marvin and wife LaNette and their children: Michelle and husband Shad Spannagel, and their children: Hannah, Haven, and Hailey; Laura and husband Phil Barnes and their children: Daniel and Jonathan; Troy Thompson and wife Heather and their children: Ryan and Alex; Manfred and wife Lana and their children: Jason (deceased), Joe Don Thompson and wife Amanda and their children: Georgia and Finley; Amber and husband Andrew Wiseheart and their children: Lincoln and Fox; Donnie and wife Dee Anna Percifull (deceased), and their children: Christopher (deceased) Jon Thompson and wife Christie and their children: Ryder White and Blake; Scott Thompson and daughter Davy; Kara (Oma’s favorite granddaughter..LOL family joke!..) and husband Bogdan Stanei and their children: Everett and Evan; Norma and her daughter: Jennifer and husband Lance Hobbs and their children: Harleigh and Bentley; Marla Percifull and her children Jared Percifull and wife Chrissie and their children Boston (deceased) and Braylin; Jacob Percifull and wife Adair and their children Graham and Dylan; and Joseph Percifull. Leni is also survived by her brother Hubertus Wenderoth and wife Eva of Germany and her sister Inge Harris and husband Tom of California. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews of the United States and Germany.

Leni was affectionately known by her grandchildren and great grandchildren as “Oma”. Leni was born in the German state of Hessen. The following are excerpts from a handwritten history Oma wrote… “From cherry trees in Germany to mesquite trees in Texas."  “My granddad, I called him Opa, took me with him on trips to little villages to check on roofing jobs. We used bicycles most of the time. I also went with him to his apple orchard. There were some real nice strawberries. I also went with him to make hay and haul it home. I got to ride on the horse drawn hay wagon. The hay was loose. It had to be packed under roof of barn. Afterwards we were all itchy and went to the river to bathe. My grandparents kept milking goats and pigs. I had to hold the goat’s beard while Oma milked. We had a cream separator in the wash house. We made goat butter. My breakfast before going to school was hot goat milk and brown bread.” “During the war we spent many nights in the air raid shelter on the edge of town. Witzenhausen was not bombed but the next big town, Kassel, had an airplane factory and was totally destroyed. Those were difficult years for us. But we were never hungry due to my grandparent's livestock and big garden.” “In the Spring of 1945 the American troops took over our town. My grandparents had to vacate their house for the soldiers. My grandparents moved into the workshop and garage. They had no car anyway. They were able to keep using the cellar and washhouse. Dale eventually moved into that house on Sudbahnhof Strasse (street) and we got acquainted. The war had ended by that time. Dale and I usually met at a friend’s house. Ilse was her name. Dale walked me home with my brother Hans as an escort. We had a 10:30 curfew for everyone. We also went sledding and ice-skating with others. The soldiers were not supposed to fraternize with the Germans but that was a big order and hard to enforce. In March Dale went back to the USA and I really missed him. My mother was sick most of that year and I had the responsibility for the whole family. In the spring of 1947, I was very sick…That summer I spent several weeks at a resort island of Sylt in the North Sea. When I got home, I had a letter from Dale proposing marriage. A very welcome letter and I took Dale up on it….On March 3, 1948, I left Germany and flew to New York and then to San Antonio…We drove to Maverick after 2-3 days. Out to the farm in the wide-open spaces of West Texas where the mesquite trees grow and the old farmhouse without plumbing, no wallpaper and bare wood floors. And a little old lady (Roxie Gibson, Dale’s grandmother) sitting in a rocking chair and spitting into an old can (she was dipping snuff). We got married on 3-13-1948 in Bronte at Dale’s sister’s house, Vivian Allen. That was my 19th birthday. We took a honeymoon to Carlsbad Caverns, N.M."

Leni was a faithful member of the Maverick Baptist Church, First Baptist Church in Bronte, and Immanuel Baptist Church in San Angelo. She loved to sing in the church choirs and was later a member of Melody Makers while living at Lyndale in San Angelo.

Pallbearers are Jon Thompson, Joe Don Thompson, Scott Thompson, Troy Thompson, Jared Percifull, Jacob Percifull and Joseph Percifull.

Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00pm, Tuesday, June 3rd at Harper Funeral Home. There will be a graveside service at 2:00 PM Wednesday June 4th at Fairview Cemetery in Bronte, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Immanuel Baptist Church or First Baptist Church of Bronte and their sanctuary window building fund, PO Box T, Bronte, TX 76933. The family would like to thank Lyndale, Baycrest and Concho Hearts Hospice for the love and care they gave our mother.