Remembering the life of Vernon S. Thompson….
The funeral service for Vernon S. Thompson, of Albert Lea, formerly of New Richland, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Richland. The Reverend Scott Williams will officiate. Interment will be in Hartland Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by New Richland Veteran’s Organizations. Visitation will be one hour before services at the church on Saturday. Friedrich Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Vernon died on Monday, February 13, 2012 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. He was 94.
He was born on January 30, 1918, in Hartland, Minnesota, the son of Arthur and Caroline (Sibilrud) Thompson. He attended rural country school and then proudly served our country He served in the U.S. Army from March of 1942 until his honorable discharge in December of 1945. When Vernon returned from the war he attended Dunwoody Institute where he attained training in auto body repair.
On May 21, 1950, Vernon married Bernice Kofstad in Hartland; they later made their home in New Richland. Vernon along with his brother Harold owned and operated Thompson Auto Body for more than 38 years before Vernon retired. He and brother Harold also owned a trailer park in New Richland.
He was a member of St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church and had also been a member of the American Legion.
He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping with his family, and loved lutefisk and lefsa.
Vernon is survived by his children Harriet (Jim) Dietz of Faribault, MN, Jeff (Dawn) Thompson of Byron, MN; four grandchildren: Karrie Dietz (Mike Galligan) of Thialand, Shane (Anita) Dietz of Fort Myers, Florida, Jason (Ikeda) Thompson of Las Vegas, Nevada, Megan (Isaac) Johnson of Stewartville, MN, greatgranddaughter Isis Thompson of Las Vegas, Nevada; sister Mae O’Neal of Cedar Rapids, IA; brother Harold (Helen) Thompson of New Richland; sister’s-in-law and brother’s-in-law: Florence Thompson of Waseca, MN, Florence Thompson of Utah, David Demmer of Owatonna , MN, LeRoy (Bonnie) Kofstad of Hartland, MN, John (Pat) Kofstad of Mantorville, MN, Harriet Light of Fargo, ND and many nieces and nephews.
Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Bernice; sisters: Alice Rosenthal and Clarice Hendricks, brothers: James, Arville, Elvern and George Thompson.
Vernon will be fondly remembered for his kind, gentle, easy-going spirit.