Duane Thompson

Duane Telmer Thompson, age 79, of Ashby, died Friday, May 27, 2011, at Lake Region Health Care, Fergus Falls. He was born on June 22, 1931, on his grandparent’s farm in Leaf Mountain Township to Guy and Alice (Thorson) Thompson. He was baptized at birth and again later at Leaf Mountain Church, and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church. He attended grade school in Leaf Mountain, Lund and St. Olaf Townships and graduated with honors from Ashby High School in 1949. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951 and served in Seoul Korea and was later stationed at Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Kansas where he met the love of his life. He was honorably discharged in 1954 and married Marjorie Zeller in Onaga, Kansas on April 4, 1954. He was employed by several businesses over the years, including the Ashby Produce, Rehab Acres in Fergus Falls, Pederson-Tripp Legion Post as Gaming Manager, Cass Clay and Ashby Creamery as milk truck driver. Duane and Marjorie purchased their farm in St. Olaf Township in 1959 where they farmed and raised four children, Gary, Renee, Curtis and Sheri. They also owned and operated a Federal Crop Insurance Agency in Fergus Falls for 35 years. They moved to Ashby in 1998 and retired from farming in 2001. They wintered in Arizona for 20 years. Duane served his community and church in many ways, including St. Olaf Township Board, Ashby School Board, Kvam Church Board, President of Allied Charities of Minnesota, lifetime member and past Commander of Ashby American Legion Post 357, member of Mason Corner Stone Lodge 99, Fergus Falls Eagles 2339 and Lake Region Pioneer Threshermen’s Association as well as a lifetime member of Fergus Falls VFW Post 612. He was a toy tractor collector, enjoyed traveling, German Shepherds, wheeling and dealing, talking politics, family gatherings, the Dairy Queen, telling jokes, hunting, dancing, listening to old time music and playing cards, especially whist. He also enjoyed farming, which he was able to do the day before his death. Duane was a loving husband and a proud father and grandfather. Preceding him in death were his parents, Guy and Alice; brother, Harley Thompson; sister, Joan Evavold; brothers-in-law, Harold Anderson and Glenn Zeller; sisters-in-law, Norma Zeller and Gail Zeller and great-granddaughter, Helena Richarte. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie of Ashby; his children Gary (Nancy) Thompson of Willmar, Renee (Bryan) Melby of Ashby, Curtis Thompson of Ashby and Sheri (Eric) Anderson of Brandon; grandchildren Suzie (Kyle) Ecker, Angela Richarte, Kristofer Thompson (Special Friend Kassia), Sarah Melby (Fiance Jeff), Jordan and Haylee Thompson, Andrew and Austin Anderson; great-grandchildren Mackenzie, Dakota, Ashton and Brodie Ecker, Ava and Jayden Richarte, and Paige and Kailen Thompson; brothers, Jerry (Bev) Thompson and Dennis (Patricia) Thompson; sister, Vonnie Anderson; brothers/sisters-in-law, Norbert Evavold, LaVay Thompson, Velma (Tom) Sanders, Melvin Zeller, Marilyn (Bob) Brown, and Fred (Gail) Zeller and many nieces and nephews. Visitation 5-7 pm Tuesday with a prayer service at 6:30 pm at Kvam Free Lutheran Church, rural Dalton and will resume one hour prior to the service at Zion- Sarpsborg Free Lutheran Church on Wednesday Service 1 pm Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at Zion-Sarpsborg Free Lutheran Church, Dalton Clergy Reverend Mark Johnson and Pastor Brett Boe Interment Kvam Cemetery, rural Dalton with Military participation from Ashby American Legion Post 357 Funeral Home Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls Memorials are preferred to Ashby Area Veterans Memorial