Bio provided by Susan Elizabeth Martin Thompson's granddaughter, FamilyHistoriansets, 2020
Susan Elizabeth Martin was born on 24 Oct 1896 in Stockham, Nebraska. Her parents, Roland T. Martin and Clara Walsh, had married and started their family in Nebraska. Around 1900 they decided to move to Montana. They packed up their family, household goods, farm equipment, and livestock, traveling mostly by train as they headed west. The last part of their trip was by stagecoach and freight wagons. The family's new home was a farm on Casino Creek, five miles south of Lewistown. There, they established the Casino Dairy, which served the surrounding Lewistown area. "Susie" married a local Lewistown young man, Rufus Buell Thompson II, on 16 Sep 1918 in Louisville, Kentucky where "Buell" was serving in the US Army. They had five children, four daughters (Ruth, Gail, Patricia, & Beverly) and one son (RBT Jr.). They lived in Buell's boyhood home in Lewistown for a number of years. Then in 1937, the family moved from Lewistown to San Diego, California where RBT Jr. was serving in the Marine Corps. Eventually, after the younger daughters had finished high school, Susie and Buell moved to Medford, Oregon. They found a lovely home with room enough for gardening and their favorite horses. Susie and Buell divorced March 17, 1947. Susie remained in her Medford home until she passed on 9 Aug 1949.
Susie's son, Rufus Buell Thompson, Jr. (III), wrote the following about his mother:
"She arrived in Lewistown, Montana on a stagecoach when about 4 years old. Her home was on a farm on Casino Creek about five miles south of Lewistown. She went to Normal School (Junior College) in Billings, Montana. After her marriage, she lived on the Thompson Ranch, then moved to Roundup, Montana. While there, she setup a small boutique/art shop. She played on a ladies' basketball team with the desire to be on a traveling team, which wasn't realized because of three children by then. She changed direction in learning to play the trap drums and remained very active with several dance bands for the rest of her life. Moving to Lewistown and not busy enough with a family of five children, she experimented with a small family grocery store for about three years during the Depression. Not much profit because some children learned to make very rich milk shakes. Another time there was a small lunchtime shop downtown. She and Grandma Martin would make pies, cakes, sandwiches, soup, etc. to sell at the shop. This too went well to help us through the Depression. Making candy was her specialty - divinity, chocolate bars, etc. My sisters and I would sell these at offices, etc. She took art classes with my sister Ruth and me in high school. She had a natural feel for art. Birds and animals were like dough in her hands. She could tame anything, I believe. She was the most loving and understanding mother. Always there when needed but never stood in our way. When I said I was going to join the Marine Corps at just 18, she said okay if you are sure this is what you want to do. The only condition was that she didn't want me to go into aviation."
Susan Elizabeth Martin was born on 24 Oct 1896 in Stockham, Nebraska. Her parents, Roland T. Martin and Clara Walsh, had married and started their family in Nebraska. Around 1900 they decided to move to Montana. They packed up their family, household goods, farm equipment, and livestock, traveling mostly by train as they headed west. The last part of their trip was by stagecoach and freight wagons. The family's new home was a farm on Casino Creek, five miles south of Lewistown. There, they established the Casino Dairy, which served the surrounding Lewistown area. "Susie" married a local Lewistown young man, Rufus Buell Thompson II, on 16 Sep 1918 in Louisville, Kentucky where "Buell" was serving in the US Army. They had five children, four daughters (Ruth, Gail, Patricia, & Beverly) and one son (RBT Jr.). They lived in Buell's boyhood home in Lewistown for a number of years. Then in 1937, the family moved from Lewistown to San Diego, California where RBT Jr. was serving in the Marine Corps. Eventually, after the younger daughters had finished high school, Susie and Buell moved to Medford, Oregon. They found a lovely home with room enough for gardening and their favorite horses. Susie and Buell divorced March 17, 1947. Susie remained in her Medford home until she passed on 9 Aug 1949.
Susie's son, Rufus Buell Thompson, Jr. (III), wrote the following about his mother:
"She arrived in Lewistown, Montana on a stagecoach when about 4 years old. Her home was on a farm on Casino Creek about five miles south of Lewistown. She went to Normal School (Junior College) in Billings, Montana. After her marriage, she lived on the Thompson Ranch, then moved to Roundup, Montana. While there, she setup a small boutique/art shop. She played on a ladies' basketball team with the desire to be on a traveling team, which wasn't realized because of three children by then. She changed direction in learning to play the trap drums and remained very active with several dance bands for the rest of her life. Moving to Lewistown and not busy enough with a family of five children, she experimented with a small family grocery store for about three years during the Depression. Not much profit because some children learned to make very rich milk shakes. Another time there was a small lunchtime shop downtown. She and Grandma Martin would make pies, cakes, sandwiches, soup, etc. to sell at the shop. This too went well to help us through the Depression. Making candy was her specialty - divinity, chocolate bars, etc. My sisters and I would sell these at offices, etc. She took art classes with my sister Ruth and me in high school. She had a natural feel for art. Birds and animals were like dough in her hands. She could tame anything, I believe. She was the most loving and understanding mother. Always there when needed but never stood in our way. When I said I was going to join the Marine Corps at just 18, she said okay if you are sure this is what you want to do. The only condition was that she didn't want me to go into aviation."
Bio provided by Susan Elizabeth Martin Thompson's granddaughter, FamilyHistoriansets, 2020
Susan Elizabeth Martin was born on 24 Oct 1896 in Stockham, Nebraska. Her parents, Roland T. Martin and Clara Walsh, had married and started their family in Nebraska. Around 1900 they decided to move to Montana. They packed up their family, household goods, farm equipment, and livestock, traveling mostly by train as they headed west. The last part of their trip was by stagecoach and freight wagons. The family's new home was a farm on Casino Creek, five miles south of Lewistown. There, they established the Casino Dairy, which served the surrounding Lewistown area. "Susie" married a local Lewistown young man, Rufus Buell Thompson II, on 16 Sep 1918 in Louisville, Kentucky where "Buell" was serving in the US Army. They had five children, four daughters (Ruth, Gail, Patricia, & Beverly) and one son (RBT Jr.). They lived in Buell's boyhood home in Lewistown for a number of years. Then in 1937, the family moved from Lewistown to San Diego, California where RBT Jr. was serving in the Marine Corps. Eventually, after the younger daughters had finished high school, Susie and Buell moved to Medford, Oregon. They found a lovely home with room enough for gardening and their favorite horses. Susie and Buell divorced March 17, 1947. Susie remained in her Medford home until she passed on 9 Aug 1949.
Susie's son, Rufus Buell Thompson, Jr. (III), wrote the following about his mother:
"She arrived in Lewistown, Montana on a stagecoach when about 4 years old. Her home was on a farm on Casino Creek about five miles south of Lewistown. She went to Normal School (Junior College) in Billings, Montana. After her marriage, she lived on the Thompson Ranch, then moved to Roundup, Montana. While there, she setup a small boutique/art shop. She played on a ladies' basketball team with the desire to be on a traveling team, which wasn't realized because of three children by then. She changed direction in learning to play the trap drums and remained very active with several dance bands for the rest of her life. Moving to Lewistown and not busy enough with a family of five children, she experimented with a small family grocery store for about three years during the Depression. Not much profit because some children learned to make very rich milk shakes. Another time there was a small lunchtime shop downtown. She and Grandma Martin would make pies, cakes, sandwiches, soup, etc. to sell at the shop. This too went well to help us through the Depression. Making candy was her specialty - divinity, chocolate bars, etc. My sisters and I would sell these at offices, etc. She took art classes with my sister Ruth and me in high school. She had a natural feel for art. Birds and animals were like dough in her hands. She could tame anything, I believe. She was the most loving and understanding mother. Always there when needed but never stood in our way. When I said I was going to join the Marine Corps at just 18, she said okay if you are sure this is what you want to do. The only condition was that she didn't want me to go into aviation."
Susan Elizabeth Martin was born on 24 Oct 1896 in Stockham, Nebraska. Her parents, Roland T. Martin and Clara Walsh, had married and started their family in Nebraska. Around 1900 they decided to move to Montana. They packed up their family, household goods, farm equipment, and livestock, traveling mostly by train as they headed west. The last part of their trip was by stagecoach and freight wagons. The family's new home was a farm on Casino Creek, five miles south of Lewistown. There, they established the Casino Dairy, which served the surrounding Lewistown area. "Susie" married a local Lewistown young man, Rufus Buell Thompson II, on 16 Sep 1918 in Louisville, Kentucky where "Buell" was serving in the US Army. They had five children, four daughters (Ruth, Gail, Patricia, & Beverly) and one son (RBT Jr.). They lived in Buell's boyhood home in Lewistown for a number of years. Then in 1937, the family moved from Lewistown to San Diego, California where RBT Jr. was serving in the Marine Corps. Eventually, after the younger daughters had finished high school, Susie and Buell moved to Medford, Oregon. They found a lovely home with room enough for gardening and their favorite horses. Susie and Buell divorced March 17, 1947. Susie remained in her Medford home until she passed on 9 Aug 1949.
Susie's son, Rufus Buell Thompson, Jr. (III), wrote the following about his mother:
"She arrived in Lewistown, Montana on a stagecoach when about 4 years old. Her home was on a farm on Casino Creek about five miles south of Lewistown. She went to Normal School (Junior College) in Billings, Montana. After her marriage, she lived on the Thompson Ranch, then moved to Roundup, Montana. While there, she setup a small boutique/art shop. She played on a ladies' basketball team with the desire to be on a traveling team, which wasn't realized because of three children by then. She changed direction in learning to play the trap drums and remained very active with several dance bands for the rest of her life. Moving to Lewistown and not busy enough with a family of five children, she experimented with a small family grocery store for about three years during the Depression. Not much profit because some children learned to make very rich milk shakes. Another time there was a small lunchtime shop downtown. She and Grandma Martin would make pies, cakes, sandwiches, soup, etc. to sell at the shop. This too went well to help us through the Depression. Making candy was her specialty - divinity, chocolate bars, etc. My sisters and I would sell these at offices, etc. She took art classes with my sister Ruth and me in high school. She had a natural feel for art. Birds and animals were like dough in her hands. She could tame anything, I believe. She was the most loving and understanding mother. Always there when needed but never stood in our way. When I said I was going to join the Marine Corps at just 18, she said okay if you are sure this is what you want to do. The only condition was that she didn't want me to go into aviation."
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