Carol Thompson

Carol was born on November 18, 1946, to Betty Jo and Markland E. Allred. She was the third of six children, growing up surrounded by brothers and sisters who helped create a legacy of stories, positive contributions, laughter, and lessons of life.

From an early age, Carol was a talented competitive swimmer, winning numerous regional and state swim meets in freestyle, back and butterfly strokes. That talent eventually became much more than a hobby when she became one of the pioneering instructors in the Infant Swimming Research Program.

Teaching frightened little children to become confident in the water took a special kind of person—and Carol was exactly that person. Lessons might begin with shrieks of terror, but somehow, under Miss Carol’s instruction, they ended with accomplishment, confidence, love, and some very proud little swimmers. Over a dozen life-saving events, attributed to Miss Carol's teaching, are documented with children "taking the safe wall" in pools, rivers, lakes and irrigation canals.

Her career spanned more than 25 years and took her across the United States, from coast to coast, touching the lives of countless children and families along the way.

Carol was also a gifted teacher of the gospel. She taught Seminary, Institute, and Gospel Doctrine for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During one very busy year, she taught all three at the same time, while teaching swimming at the same time. She taught in three different countries at different times and even presented at BYU's Education Week in Provo.

Anyone lucky enough to be taught—or raised—by Carol probably heard a few of her favorite sayings:

“You think you’re special, but you’re not.”

“It’s not funny unless everyone’s laughing—and I’m not laughing.”

And, of course: "Well Lootie Kazootie!"

Carol met and married Michael K. Thompson almost 60 years ago, beginning a marriage and partnership that would take them around the world. Together, Carol and Mike created a beautiful life filled with adventure, family, travel, laughter, and memories that will be cherished for generations.

They were blessed with three children: Nikki Macmillan, Jaime Cunningham, and William Mark Thompson, and later with grandchildren and great-grandchildren who lovingly know Carol as Tutu. Her family was one of the greatest blessings of her life—and she was certainly one of the greatest blessings in theirs.

Trying to list all of Carol’s talents is nearly impossible.

In addition to teaching, she was famous for her lemon meringue pie. She was a sharp shooter. She could handle herself as a deckhand aboard the fishing vessel Hula Girl out of Kona, Hawaii. She personally caught over 40 marlin (her first one was 672 pounds!). And she had an amazing golf swing.

We're sure that she intended to pass this impressive collection of talents on to her children, but some of us struggle to match her skills with lemon meringue pie.

Carol was, to put it mildly, a well-rounded woman. She lived fully. She taught. She traveled. She laughed. She competed. She loved her family. And she collected a lifetime of stories worth telling.

Carol and Mike built a life together that spanned the globe, but Carol’s greatest legacy isn’t measured in the places she traveled or even in all the remarkable things she accomplished.

It lives in her family.

It lives in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

It lives in the people she taught, the children she encouraged (and saved), and the countless story-generating memories that still make us laugh.

And whenever those stories are told—about Miss Carol, Mom, Grandma, or Tutu—Carol will still be right there in the middle of them actively shaping us, as she did personally when she was in our midst!

Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 18, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Rexburg East Stake Center. The family will receive friends Thursday evening, September 17, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg, and again Friday morning from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the stake center prior to the service.