Bryce Egner Thomson Obituary (1916 - 2013)

Age 96 of Eaton Rapids died Monday, January 7, 2013 at his residence. Born October 18, 1916 in Bellevue Michigan the son of Milborn and Twila (Mulvany) Thomson. Bryce graduated from Bellevue High School in 1934 and served with the Combat Engineers in Europe during World War II. He was formerly the President and CEO of Miller Dairy Farms before the business sold in 1979. His experience in the ice cream business began in 1936 behind the soda fountain in a small town drug store in Bellevue, Michigan. It was there that his promotional talents caught the attention of the management of Miller Dairy Farms of Eaton Rapids. They hired him as Marketing Manager and his position also included stores Supervisor, Sales manager and General Manager. He was the originator of the "Ice Cream Sundae Poll" and numerous other imaginative promotions which have received national attention. An author of a number of articles dealing with ice cream marketing and his "Environmental Ice Cream Menu" became a classroom teaching aid in many schools. In 1973, he installed a small ice cream parlor in the Special Education Classroom at Eaton Rapids High School. There students with learning handicaps served up frozen treats during the noon hour and learned about the world of work. The program has been featured on the NBC Today program and has been judged one of the 10 top Special Education programs in the nation. In 1965, he served as president of the National Ice Cream Retailers Association (NICRA) and in 1986 they made him a Lifetime member. He was a 4 time winner of the "Idea of the Year Award" sponsored by Dairy Field magazine. In 1971, he was named "Dairy Manufacturer of the Year", then the highest award of the Michigan State University Dairy Department and until just recently was the publisher of "The Sundae School Newsletter" for the past 25 years for members of the NICRA. Bryce was a Life member of the Eaton Rapids Rotary Club and for several years published the "Spoke" for the club and in 1999 received the Paul Harris Award. Preceding him in death was his wife Dorothy in 1999 and a brother, Rex in 1974. Surviving are two children, Jill (William) Groth of Lansing and Brad (Marcia) Thomson of Cummin, GA.; 2 granddaughters, Megan McDonald and Lydia Thomson; 2 sisters, Onice Udell of Bellevue and Loumar (Phillip) Sondeen of Ann Arbor. A memorial "ice cream social" gathering will be held from 1-4 PM on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at Miller Dairy Farms Ice Cream Parlor at the Eaton Rapids Historical Society 635 State St. Eaton Rapids, MI 48827. For those desiring memorial contributions may be made to the Bryce Thomson Scholarship Fund at the NICRA 1028 W. Devon Ave. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007. For online condolences go to www.skinnerfuneralhome.com. Memorials: Bryce Thomson Scholarship Fund at the NICRA 1028 W. Devon Ave. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007