Bodhild "Bella" Thompson

Bodhild (Bella) Thompson was born in the Bronx, New York on October 30, 1929. She was the youngest of 9 children born to Jack and Martina Thompson, immigrants from Norway. She had four older brothers: Thomas, Hans, Gustave and Kenneth, and four older sisters: Tillie, Hilda (Keegan), Margaret (Jacobson), and Sophie (Heggland), each preceding her in death. She attended Hillcrest Lutheran Academy in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, graduating in 1947 along with her future brother-in-law, Tommy Heggland.

Bella worked at a variety of jobs: bookkeeper at a bank and at local businesses in Connecticut; real estate professional in Florida; and teacher’s aide at her church’s nursery school. She was a poet who loved to share her faith in God through verse and song, and an artist who enjoyed painting the beauty she saw around her.

She had a twinkle in her eye and was always ready to laugh at a funny story or good joke. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Always ready for a party and the ultimate board game player, she often became too engrossed to talk on the phone with anyone during weekly game nights. She enjoyed morning coffee and TV time with her sister, Sophie, many mornings until Sophie was taken home to glory in 2010.

Bella trusted in Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord and rested in His life, death and resurrection. She was an active member of Bethany Lutheran Brethren Church in East Hartland, Connecticut where she lived with her sister, Tillie (and their father until his death in 1970) from 1952 until 1977 when they moved to Holiday, Florida. She and Tillie became members of Sunshine Lutheran Brethren Church and enjoyed many years together in their home there. They were both so happy to be living in close proximity to their sister, Sophie, and her husband, Tommy, as well as many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and eventually, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. After Tillie went home to glory in 1990, Bella was blessed with a deep and lasting friendship with her dear friend Betsy Barton.

Bella cared deeply for the spiritual welfare of her extended family and friends and often prayed for and encouraged each of them to trust in Jesus Christ as the only One through whom they could come to the Father in Heaven and be accepted as His child.

Bella will be missed by all who knew her. We look forward to the day when we will be reunited with her in heaven in the presence of our Lord Jesus.

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”

Psalms 116:15, ESV

Be Still and Know that I Am God

Be Still -

No noisy clamors here.

No restless activity be done.

God makes His order clear to everyone,

Be Still

And Know -

Find knowledge now.

Know certainly, beyond the faintest doubt.

God tells us simply how to be assured,

And Know

That I -

The Christ who died,

Who suffered death and hell,

Who rose, to come again, Who is indeed

That I

Am God -

All love to show.

From everlasting ages to no end.

So be still, assured, and know that I

Am God!

Written by

"Bella" Bodhild Thompson