Thompson's mother was a singer and dancer, until a train accident left her unable to continue dancing.

[2] She associated with the Army Cadet Marching Band which helped launch her career when she was asked to be their lead female singer.

She quit her teaching job to go to California,[3] where Thompson entered a singing competition in San Francisco.

[1] She toured Europe, performing for soldiers in World War II[2] with the 314th Army Special Service Band.

[1][2] Thompson returned to the U.S. and she went to BYU to establish the Student Program Bureau in 1952 at the request of Ernest L. Wilkinson.

She traveled to all the high schools in Utah, while also helping with youth productions with the Young Women's organization in the church.

[2] In New York, Thompson taught music lessons on Long Island and trained children to sing.

[2] She was the founder of several performing groups, including Young Ambassadors and Lamanite Generation (currently Living Legends) which tour internationally today.

[1] Some of her students were Heather Young, Sally Flynn and Sandi Griffiths from The Lawrence Welk Show, and Joseph Runningfox.