Dixie Ann Thompson
February 2, 1931 — September 22, 2025
Dixie Ann Thompson was born on February 2, 1931 to Roy and Anna Larson in Harlan, Iowa. She was baptized at the Irwin Church of Christ and graduated from Irwin High School in 1948.
Following graduation Dixie attended Barnes Beauty School for one year where she met her first husband, Phillip Gallagher. They were married in Council Bluffs, Iowa and together welcomed their son Patrick. Phil and Dixie later moved to Bremerton, Washington in 1950 before Dixie eventually returned to Irwin, Iowa.
In 1962 fate reunited Dixie with her high school sweetheart, "Rusty" Thompson. The two were married on February 14, 1962 and made their home in Tipton, Iowa. They later returned to Irwin to raise their family on the farm. In 1985 Dixie and Elizabeth followed Rusty and Eric to Mesa, Arizona. Dixie continued her cosmetology career until her retirement in the early 2000s.
Throughout her life Dixie was a devoted member of her community and church. She was an active member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Order of the Eastern Star, Auxiliary and The Red Hat Society. Dixie was an avid sports fan who never missed one of her children's games or activities. Dixie was a beloved Aunt who treated her nieces and nephews as if they were her own.
Dixie passed away peacefully at 94 years, 7 months and 20 days at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa on Monday September 22, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Anna Larson; husband, Russell "Rusty" Thompson; son, Patrick Gallagher; son, Eric Thompson; and siblings, Paul Lewis Larson, Robert "Bob" Larson, Richard "Dick" Larson, and Mary Alice Larsen.
Dixie is survived by her children Allyson (Bart) Schmidt of Chattanooga, TN; Cynthia (Lynn) Rutherford of Jamestown, OH; Elizabeth (Bill) Butler of Copperas Cove, TX; 11 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren, her very devoted friends Dick and Dee Sorenson, many nieces and nephews, family and friends.
The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff of Salem Lutheran Home, Myrtue Medical Center and Myrtue Hospice.
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