Robert Thompson

Robert Ellsworth Thompson was born October 15, 1916, in Columbia Township, Polk County, Minnesota, to Charles G. and Ellen (Gustafson) Thompson. He was raised on the family farm, and attended country school and Bagley High School. He married Marie H. Cagwin in 1936, and they moved to Lengby. In 1941, they moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1945, they returned to Minnesota and purchased the Thompson family farm. Together they farmed and during that time Bob also operated the Erskine Co-op Creamery and later accepted a fieldsman job with Land-O-Lakes. In 1956, he accepted a position with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and they relocated to Thief River Falls. Following retirement in 1981, they moved to Fosston and wintered in Texas. In order to be near their daughter Shirley, they moved to Farmington in 2002 and Northfield in February 2009.Bob was a member of the Fosston Baptist Church. Wherever they lived, Bob was always active in the church....serving as deacon, trustee, chairman, secretary, treasurer, as an adult Sunday school teacher, and as a co-leader of young people groups. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, bowler and golfer. He enjoyed his many friends at Land-O-Lakes, the Department of Agriculture, and in Texas. He lived his life with integrity, full of love, and with devotion for God, family and friends.Survivors include his wife of 74 years, Marie; his daughter, Shirley Otness of Rosemount; 2 grandchildren and their spouses: Leon and Beth Otness of Rosemount, Lynda and Terry Hislop of Paradise Valley, Arizona; 6 great-grandchildren: Chloe, Eric, Jacob and Anders Otness, Joshua and Benjamin Hislop; his brothers: George of St. Paul, Warren of California; his sister, Fern Ashmun of South Dakota; special niece, Betty Randklev of Clearbrook; nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.He was preceded in death by a son in infancy; his son-in-law, Stan; his parents; his brothers: Wesley, Kenneth and Lee; and his sisters: Hazel Stenlund, Joyce Thompson and May Stoesz.Robert passed away with his wife and daughter by his side, on Tuesday evening, May 11, 2010, at his home in Northfield, at the age of 93.Services were at 11:00 AM Monday, May 24, 2010, at the Chapel of the Northfield Retirement Community with Rev. Randy Swenson officiating. Refreshments will follow. Interment will be in Fridhem Cemetery at Lengby. Honorary casket bearers are Neal Anderson, Ron Bailie, Tim Hanson, Leon Otness, Jerry Scott, Dr. Roger Sjulson. Visitation will be at the chapel one hour prior to the service.Memorials are preferred to Fosston Baptist Church.