Avonne Romaine Thompson, nee Nottleson b. 14 April 1936), passed away at the age of 89 on 23 October 2025, in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. Avonne entered the world on 14 April 1936 in Rosholt, Wisconsin. Avonne was the daughter of Melvin and Marjorie Nottleson. She married Walter Caroll Thompson (d. 2017), on 7 August 1955 in Wittenberg, Wisconsin. She raised two children, Gregory Scott and Cynthia Jean (d. 1992).

Avonne was a consummate executive assistant. She spent a number of years working with her husband, Walter, in his private practice as a physician. She also spent many years working in numerous administrative offices at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth (formerly Hinsdale Hospital) in Hinsdale, Illinois.

Avonne's deep faith led her to be very active in her church in Battle Creek, Michigan, Loma Linda, California, and especially Hinsdale Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Hinsdale, Illinois. For decades she led various children's departments and as her own children grew and moved on, she volunteered in a wide range of capacities in the church. She had a passion for young parents and the elderly and often advocated for ways to make services and programs at the church more accessible and meaningful for those groups.

Avonne and her husband spent a number of years in missionary service on the island of Guam. She enjoyed sharing the stories of the adventure with her grandchildren, especially the details of surviving one of the worst typhoons to ever hit the island, Typhoon Karen. She also liked to share stories of her youth. One of her favorites was about working with her mother one summer, picking cucumbers. She hated that job and let her mother know of her distinct displeasure. Her mother smiled and reminded her that it was only temporary and that she wouldn't be picking cucumbers forever. It was a valuable lesson that she passed on to her children and great-grandchildren. The family often smiles when someone complains and reminds them, "you won't have to pick cucumbers forever."

Her children, both adopted, were very important to her and she often took on the role of room mother for their classrooms and helped with various planning activities for the schools they attended. She also endured the many hours of sitting with them as they practiced the piano or struggled through homework.

A small immediate family only service was held this past week at Floral Hill Cemetery in New London, Wisconsin. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations in Avonne's name be made to the Hinsdale Humane Society in Hinsdale, Illinois (https://www.hinsdalehumanesociety.org/donate). Avonne was a dog lover and adopted a number of dogs from the HHS. She would be excited to know that her memory is helping other pups find homes.

Avonne is survived by her son, Gregory Scott Thompson, four grandchildren: Denyse Jennifer Maquera, Lori Nichole Macdonnell (n. Hagy) (David), Andrew Scott Thompson (Drew), Megan Janel Hough (n. Thompson) (Brandon), and four great-grandchildren: Maiya Lei Stephenson, Jade Lynn Stephenson, Liam Timothy Macdonnell, and Callahan James Hough. She will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by all.