Marvin Thompson

Marvin "Marv" Thompson, age 91, passed away on Sunday, February 7th, at his home in Fosston, Minnesota after a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 13th, at Hope Lutheran church in Fosston with the Rev. Paul Magelssen officiating. Interment will be in Hope Lutheran Cemetery, Fosston. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Friday, February 12th, at the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home in Fosston. There will also be reviewal for one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Military honors will be provided by the National Guard Honors Team. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston and messages of condolence may be sent at www.carlinhoialmen.com. Marvin Duane Thompson was born August 5, 1924 in Thief River Falls, Minnesota to Walter and Rose (Kezar) Thompson. They lived in Thief River Falls, Minnesota until 1929. The family moved to Fergus Falls, Minnesota where they lived until 1937 when they moved to Minneapolis. In 1938 the family moved to Fosston, Minnesota where Walter bought a Red Owl grocery store. Marv attended Fosston High School where he graduated in 1942. After graduation Marv attended Bemidji State College for one semester where he played football. That spring he joined the Navy and served in the Pacific during WWII from 1943-1946. Marv was an Aviation Radioman and tail gunner on the aircraft carrier Kadashan Bay and was involved in the Philippian invasion as well as other battles in the South Pacific and South China Sea. During one mission, his plane he was hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire and took shrapnel to his back but was saved by the backpack that he was wearing. He received a purple heart and a commendation from T.C Kinkaid, the Vice Admiral of the U.S. Navy. After the war Marv attended Concordia College from 1946-1949 where he played football and was one of the captains on the team. He was proud to be a Cobber. Marv met Barbara Larson at Concordia and they were married in 1948 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Beltrami, MN. They had 65 great years together. After graduating from Concordia Marv accepted his first teaching position in Lakefield, Minnesota where he taught and coached. In 1951 they moved to Fosston where Marv was a teacher, driver education instructor and coach. He coached football, baseball and basketball for many years and also served as the athletic director until his retirement in 1987. In 1987 the community named the football field "Thompson Field" in his honor. Marv served for 20 years as a fireman, was a member of the Rotary Club, American Legion and Hope Lutheran Church. Marv loved to golf, fish, hunt and spend time with Barb at the cabin on Cass Lake. Marv and Barb loved to travel and visited all 50 states as well as countries in Europe, Asia, South America and the South Pacific. He also enjoyed visiting with his coffee friends every morning and golfing with his team on Tuesdays. Marv is survived by his three sons, Michael (Deb) Thompson, Minneapolis, MN, Gary (Lori) Thompson, Valley City, ND, and Steve (Natalie) Thompson, River Falls, WI, as well as his grandchildren, Philip Thompson, Bloomington, MN, Christina Vecchio (Brian), Colorado Springs, CO, Kari Thompson, Horace, ND, Jacob Thompson, River Falls, WI, and Melene Thompson, Bloomington, IN. Marv was preceded in death by his wife Barbara, brother Lawrence, and parents Rose and Walt Thompson. Marv will be greatly missed. He was an outstanding man.

Visitation

Friday, February 12, 2016 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Carlin Funeral Home-Erskine
326 Vance Ave. S. Erskine 56535, United States

Funeral Service

Saturday, February 13, 2016 11:00 AM
Hope Lutheran Church
508 N. Foss Ave. Fosston 56542, United States