Elizabeth 'Betty" M. Thompson

Elizabeth "Betty" (Miller) Thompson, age 86, died surrounded by family on August 31, 2018, in Cortland, N.Y. Formerly of Newark Valley and originally from Oneonta, she is survived by her husband, William; her four daughters Julie (Ron) Sorcek of Bethel, Conn., Denise (Steve) Wrinn of Homer; Patricia Thompson (Mark Simonson) of St. Paul, Minn., and Renee (Matt) Kelahan of Ashburn, Va.; her "fifth daughter," Rosalie (Bill) Wright; grandchildren Kathleen Wrinn (Antonio Silva Dora), Eric Sorcek, Ruby Thompson, and Casey and Cameron Kelahan; brothers- and sisters-in-law Robert Thompson, Denise Thompson, Betsy Miller and Helen Thomason; and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Helen Miller of Oneonta, N.Y.; brothers Gene, David, and John; sister Susan Patnaude; sister-in-law Gerry Miller; and brother-in-law Oscar Patnaude. Betty was born on February 17, 1932, attended Bugbee Elementary School, and graduated from Oneonta High School in 1949. She studied history and Spanish at Hartwick College in Oneonta, graduating in 1953, then completed a year of graduate study in library science at Oswego State. On the way into church on Easter Sunday 1954, an acquaintance from high school named Bill Thompson asked to sit next to her and they began dating. She worked at the Huntington Library in Oneonta that year until they married on Labor Day 1955. While raising their four daughters who had been born over the next half-decade, Betty worked as the librarian at Newark Valleys elementary school for a few years, led Girl Scout troops, baked the best chocolate chip cookies, and fostered community and citizen participation in the Tioga County area. Once the girls were grown, Betty began preparing income tax returns, first through H&R Block and then through her own business, Bettys Income Tax. She was elected to the Newark Valley Town Council and was active with Project Neighbor, the REAP board, and the Newark Valley Historical Society. Calling hours are Friday, September 28, 2018, from 5-7 pm at the MacPherson Funeral Home, 5 Whig Street, Newark Valley. A funeral mass and celebration of her life will be held Saturday, September 29 at 12:30 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church in Newark Valley, with luncheon to follow. If desired, memorials directed to the Newark Valley Historical Society in memory of Elizabeth Thompson would be appreciated . Memories and condolences may be written in Betty's guestbook at macphersonfh.com. Visitation MacPherson Funeral Home Friday, September 28, 2018 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM 5 Whig St Newark Valley, NY 13811 Directions Mass of Christian Burial St. John the Evangelist Church Saturday, September 29, 2018 12:30 PM Rock St Newark Valley, NY 13811 Directions