Grover Thompson passed away on June 30, 2026 at his ranch home with his family by his side.
Grover Thompson was born February 23, 1944 in Alliance Nebraska to Glen and Eileen (Cunningham) Thompson. He grew up with his younger brother Harold on the ranch his grandparents homesteaded 20 miles southeast of Alliance, attended country schools in his early years, then graduated from Alliance High School in 1962. He was in Boy Scouts, and attended Jamborees across the country. In high school Grover was active in FFA and also could be found whenever possible at the Alliance roping club arena practicing his calf roping skills. After graduation he attended Colorado State University and college rodeo’ d for a semester before enlisting in the US Army. He became a highly trained member of the Special Forces, (Green Berets) serving in active duty in Vietnam where he earned the Bronze Star among other awards. Upon his return home, he went back to the ranch for a time before hitting the rodeo trail. He qualified for the National Finals Steer Roping , and also roped calves at rodeos all across the country. In 1980, he married Vicki Janik in Fort Collins Colorado and they settled into ranching south of Alliance. Fun times were spent with children Amanda and Frank, hunting, camping, fishing and going to archery and sporting clays shooting tournaments.
The whole family enjoyed ranching together and playing together. Grover was very involved with conservation and attended many schools. He then came home and implemented the new things he learned to improve the resources on the ranch. Tinkering, “inventing” things and helping neighbors were things he enjoyed. He never met a piece of equipment, old or brand new that couldn’t be improved.
He served on the board of the North Platte NRD, was an officer of the Nebraska branch of the Center for Holistic Resource Management, volunteered at St. Agnes Academy and was a member of the Alliance Volunteer Fire Department, Alliance Rifle Club and was on the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Boys Ranch. After his retirement, you could find him at the Wellness Center at BBGH exercising and chatting with old and new friends.
He is survived by wife Vicki, son Frank (Mandy) Thompson at the ranch, daughter Amanda (Casey) DeGabain of Cheyenne, WY, and granddaughters Elsie June Thompson and Billie Dot DeGabain. Sister in law Marge Thompson, nephew Gene (Izzy) Thompson, nieces Jodi (Paul) Fries, Glenda (Darren) McCune, Keri (Mike) Gibson, Sara (Dustin) Hicks all of Alliance, and Karla (Dean) Hall of Chadron. He was preceded in death by his parents Glen and Eileen, brother Harold and granddaughter Birdie May Thompson.
Memorials are suggested to the Alliance Volunteer Fire Department, Box Butte County 4H Shooting Sports or St. Agnes Academy.
Funeral services will be Friday, July 3 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church with Father Matt Koperski officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the Alliance Cemetery.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com with Bates-Gould Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.