Merlin V. Thompson

Merlin V. Thompson, 87, formerly of Underwood, died Thursday, February 22, 2018, at the Ashby Living Center.

He was born on July 14, 1930, in Cass County, ND, to Arthur Theodore and Alma (Olerud) Thompson. Merlin was baptized at the Lutheran Church in Leonard, ND, and attended school, grades 1-6, at Leonard. The family moved to the Underwood area in the summer of 1942. He was confirmed at Sverdrup Lutheran Church and graduated from Underwood High School in 1949.

In 1951, Merlin married Judy Tjaden. They were blessed with four children. Merlin worked on the home farm for several years. They moved to Aurora, MN, in 1957, where Merlin worked at the Erie Mining Company for the next 8 years. They returned to the Underwood area in the spring of 1965 and purchased a farm where the family lived until moving to South Turtle Lake in 1972. Merlin developed the Big Island Campsite on South Turtle Lake.

During the following years, Merlin had various jobs including Swanson Equipment in Fergus Falls; Merlin’s Magic Garden in Alexandria, where he managed a greenhouse operation that specialized in the growing of hydroponic vegetables for resale; he managed a business in the Westridge Mall in Fergus Falls, which featured bedding plants and floral arrangements; Van Berkom Ford in Battle Lake, and he also worked for several years at the Title Atlas Company in Battle Lake.

On August 31, 1996, Merlin married Joan Eitreim Frerk at Sverdrup Lutheran Church in Underwood, and moved to Stalker Lake. Merlin then worked at the Iverson Rest Area on I-94 near Fergus Falls until his retirement.

Merlin was a member of Spirit of Hope Lutheran Church.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Arthur and Alma Thompson; a son, Craig Thompson; brother, Roger Thompson; and sister, Muriel Walsh.

Survivors include his sons, Alan (Karen) Thompson of Underwood, Bruce (Jackie) Thompson of Mora; daughter, Barbara (Oshri) Gabay of Kiryat Tivon, Israel; five grandchildren, Laura (Zachary) Norton, Jenna Thompson, Seth (Lindsay) Thompson, Talia and Tomer Gabay; two great-grandchildren, Fox Norton and Hazel Thompson; special friend, Lorraine Selland; as well as a host of relatives and friends.

Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the funeral home
Service: 11 a.m. Thursday, March 1, 2018, at the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend Todd Hylden
Interment: Sverdrup Cemetery, Underwood, MN
Arrangements are provided by the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls
Online condolences may be sent to www.OlsonFuneralHome.com