Bret Leon Thompson, of Grace Idaho, passed away on November 29, 2021.

Bret was born on November 29, 1962 in Soda Springs Idaho, the 3rd child of Eugene Thompson and Cleone Ashbaker. He was raised in rural Idaho where he was taught good small town values: to love his family, to love and respect nature, to work hard, and to enjoy life.

He graduated from Soda Springs High School in 1981. Later he joined the United States Army where his assignments took him to Germany, Texas and Alaska. He married Lisa Kunz in 1986 and took on the role of stepdad for her 1 year old daughter Jennifer. Three additional children would be born to this union and they later divorced. In 1991 he was deployed to Iraq to serve in the Gulf War. While he was fighting for his country, his daughter Mikayla was born. Shortly after the war ended, in 1992, he was discharged from the military and moved with his family to Soda Springs, Idaho. As a result of his time overseas he had some hearing loss, PTSD, and other health issues that followed him throughout his life but never did he complain about the cost to him. He was always proud to have been able to serve his country. Shortly after moving to Soda Springs his daughter Tabitha was born in 1994 and then his son Jacob was born in 1996. His work ethic and determination to provide for his family helped him move up through Monsanto during his 25 year career there. He started as a tapper and retired as an Environmental Safety Compliance Coordinator.

He loved all things outdoors and spending time with his family. He could always be found hunting, camping, driving through the mountains, taking photos of nature, picking huckleberries, white water rafting, helping a stranger in need, attending various events and milestones in his family's lives, and laughing.

He had recently reached one year of sobriety and was so proud of that accomplishment. We are all so proud of him too.

He is survived by his children Jennifer and Bryan Ricker of Moscow Idaho, Mikayla and Ben Kimble of Idaho Falls Idaho, Tabitha Thompson of Boise Idaho, and Jacob and Tasia Thompson of Pocatello Idaho; his grandchildren Declan, Norah, Ezra, Chase, Audrey, Hayes, and Hunter; his mother Cleone Rodriguez of Preston Idaho; his siblings David Thompson, Deborah Sanchez, Rex Thompson, Brenda Twitchell, Linda Stiffler, and Vicki Buffaloe; and numbers of other loved ones. He was preceded in death by his father Eugene Thompson, his stepmother Beulah Thompson, and his sister Debbie Tims.

No services will be held at this time.