Stanley’s Obituary Stanley James Thomson was born in Seattle, Washington on April 8, 1925 and died peacefully at home on December 31, 2018 in Anchorage, Alaska. He graduated from Ballard High School in 1943. Soon after, he joined the US Marine Corps and spent World War II serving on a supply ship in the Pacific Theater.
After the war, Stan attended Seattle College where he met his first wife, Bonnie. Together they had two sons, David and Mark. Stan came to Alaska in 1952 for a job in a Ketchikan cannery.
Soon he moved to Anchorage and saw a unique opportunity to start his own food brokerage business. In 1957, Stan opened the “Stanley Thomson Company” introducing the people of Alaska to the thriving post-WWII products that were making American lives easier in the lower 48. As the industry changed over time, Stan’s businesses changed too.
The Stanley Thomson Company gave way to new businesses including Bob’s Distributing and Greatland Foods. Stan played as hard as he worked. He loved to take his yacht for cruises off the Pacific Northwest coasts; he enjoyed sharing Alaskan fishing trips with family and friends; and he explored all the corners of the world.
When he met and married his current wife Betty, their travels included an ancestral pilgrimage to Scotland with his brother, sister and their spouses; going on safari in Africa; cruising the rivers of Europe; a grand trip to South America; and spending time at their second home in Sun Lakes, Arizona. Even as his health failed, Stan would ask Betty when they were leaving for their next trip. Stan was preceded in death by his parents, James and Mima Thomson of Seattle: first wife, Bonnie (Barbour) Thomson; son Stanley Mark Thomson; brother and sister-in-law Arthur & Gayle Thomson; sister and brother in-law Helen & Barry O’Brien, nephew John O’Brien.
He is survived by his wife Betty (Carlson) Thomson of Anchorage; son David (Johna) and grandsons Teegan and Tristan Thomson of Black Diamond, Washington; nieces and nephews: Art (Susie) Thomson, Jill (John) Storm, Dana Carlson, Steven O’Brien and JoAnne O’Brien and 6 great-nieces-and-nephews. He also leaves behind Betty’s family, Steve (Brenda) Carlson, Don (Linda) Carlson and Lian (Michael) Crabb as well as her grandchildren Brandon (Kaiya) Carlson, Tricia (Brian) DeMarco, Jeffrey (Jenny) Carlson, Corey Carlson, Julia (Bruce) Melson, Lisa (Mike) Forsland, Joseph (Kristin) Crabb and 14 great-grandchildren of Anchorage, Alaska. Stan worked hard, loved deeply and lived greatly for 93 years.
He served his country, state and family well. Now, may he rest peacefully knowing he was loved and respected by many, and his work here is done. A service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, on Fri.
, Jan. 25, 3:00pm.
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