LINCOLN – Harold Sterling Thompson, 79, husband of Beulah (Worster) Thompson, died April 3, 2004, at a Lincoln healthcare facility. He was born Dec. 28, 1924, in Prentiss, the son of Nat and Madge (Smith) Thompson. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Harold worked for William and Calvin Thompson for more than 30 years, starting on the farm. No one would have known him by Harold. If they ever wanted to know anything about the farm, they would say “just go ask Sterl.” The last half of his working days, he operated a cable crane loading gravel in the summer and pulpwood in the winter. To everyone who worked with Sterl or knew him, he was one of the best crane operators in the state. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and the out of doors, liked going to beano and turkey shoots, and enjoyed visiting with his children and grandchildren. In addition to his wife, Beulah, he is survived by five children and their spouses, Harold Derwood Thompson and Becky of Deep River, Conn., Galen Thompson and Sharon of Lincoln, Sylvia and Bobby Walcott of Lee, Dalton Thompson and Judy of Brookton, and Susan and Richard Jipson of Prentiss; a brother, Fern Thompson of Lincoln; five sisters, Marguerite Thornton of Bangor, Pauline Drake and Beryle Downs, both of Springfield, Gloria Beckland of Kansas, and Marie Irish of Prentiss; 14 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren and their families; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a great-grandson, Nicholas Smith; and several brothers-in-law and sister-in-law. Family visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. Monday at the Clay Funeral Home, 7 Lee Road, Lincoln. Friends and family may call from 7-9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. A graveside service will be held later in the spring, at the Thompson Cemetery, Prentiss, with the Rev. Thomas Smith officiating. For an online register book, please go to www.clayfuneralhome.com. <>