Richard Lee 'Rick' Thompson

Richard Lee "Rick" Thompson was born in New Rockford, N.D., on Nov. 5, 1957, and died April 15, 2007.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 21, 2007, at Coffelt's Chapel, 109 N. Division St., Sandpoint.

He moved with his family to Sandpoint in 1961, where he graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1975.

Rick enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served from 1975 to 1980, where he achieved the rank of second class petty officer. After graduating from hospital corpsman, Class "A" school, he served as a corpsman. His tour of duty included Okinawa, Japan, and in the Philippines.

After leaving the service in 1980, he married Pamela Bunch and had three sons. They later divorced. On Aug. 3, 1991, he married Marcie (Lockman) Thompson.

Rick worked for the Daily Bee in various positions, but chose to leave the newspaper (where he sold advertising) in 1995 to pursue his true passion, artistry. His medium was mostly shale rock.

He started a rock mason business, which allowed him to pursue and perfect his artwork in rocks. He channeled his creative energy into cutting wildlife sculptures out of shale rock and inlaid them into fireplaces and walkways. He built water fountains, yard art, patios, retaining walls and wall art. Most of Rick's artwork centered around nature and wildlife.

He loved to hunt and fish with his father, his brothers and father-in-law. He spent his days in the mountains from the fall through the winter, skiing, hiking and hunting and his summers on the lake fishing and water-skiing. Rick was a past member of the Sandpoint Lions Club.

Rick valued his family and friends. He was thrilled with his life. Being able to pursue his passion with his wife Marcie by his side each day, always made him smile.

Rick was preceded in death by his mother, Adell Thompson; and brother-in-law Michael Lockman.

Rick is survived by his wife, Marcie Thompson of Clark Fork; and his children, Tyrel and Barbara Thompson of Clark Fork, Tel and Amanda Thompson stationed at Fort Lewis in Puyallup, Wash., and Orrin and Fawn Thompson stationed at Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, Hawaii. Rick dearly loved and enjoyed his grandchildren, Samuel Thompson, Mercedes McCoy, Tyanna Thompson, Hayley Thompson and Jared Thompson. He never had the opportunity to meet his youngest grandchild Jared.

Rick also is survived by his father E.G. (Pete) Thompson; and siblings, Scott Thompson of Priest River, James and Sandra Thompson of Post Falls, Paul and Nancy Thompson of Kootenai, Idaho, Jack and Penney Thompson of Newman Lake, Wash., Joel Thompson of Sandpoint, Patrick Thompson of Spokane, Jim and Gayle (Thompson) Cooper of Dayton, Wash., and Randy and Darcy (Thompson) McDougall of Sandpoint; his in-laws, Gordon and Linda Lockman of Clark Fork, Larry and Laurie (Lockman) Ray of Coos Bay, Ore.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Please sign Rick's guest registry and view his online memorial at www.coffeltfuneral.com.