BENTON -- Josephine Sophie Thompson of Benton died Saturday, April 11, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was 83.

She was born April 1, 1915, in Paragould, Ark., daughter of William and Emma Strack Niederkorn. She married Earsel Joseph Thompson on June 23, 1933. He died Oct. 20, 1969.

She was a cook for the St. Denis schools. She was a member of St. Denis Catholic Church in Benton, the Daughters of Isabella Circle 703 in Cape Girardeau, the Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Post 369 in Benton, and a charter member of the Cerebral Palsy Center in Sikeston.

She is survived by five sons, Henry and Mike Thompson, both of Benton, Ron Thompson of Hillsboro, Joseph "Bud" Thompson of Cape Girardeau and Randy Thompson of Charleston; six daughters, Joan Rock of Big Spring, Texas, Barbara Dittlinger of Benton, "Mary Jane" Pfefferkorn of Chaffee, Carole Meyer of Granite City, Ill., "Peggy Jo" Thompson of Ste. Genevieve and Brenda Guethle of Dexter; a brother, William Niederkorn of Chicago; 37 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two sons, a daughter, a grandson and a great-granddaughter.

Visitation will be at 4 p.m. Monday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Benton. The Daughters of Isabella will conduct a service at 6:45, and parish prayers will be said at 7.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Denis Catholic Church, with the Rev. Normand Varone officiating. Burial will be at St. Denis Cemetery.