She was born October 26, 1947, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and graduated from Washington High School in 1965.
She is a current or former member of the board of directors for United Way of the Midlands, Great Plains Girl Scouts Council, Indian-Chicano Health Center, St. Columbkille Education Foundation, a member of the Greater Omaha Private Industry Council, League of Women Voters, and Papillion-La Vista Schools Foundation board of trustees.
Thompson ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2004, losing to incumbent Rep. Lee Terry 61%-36%.
She was appointed to the legislature on November 26, 1997 to replace Ron Withem, who had resigned.
Since Nebraska voters passed Initiative Measure 415 in 2001 limiting state senators to two terms after 2001, she was unable to run for reelection barring a court challenge of the measure.