Lowell "L.D." Thompson

The funeral service for Lowell “L. D. " Thompson of Verndale, and formerly of Wadena and Oylen, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 8, 2013, at the Verndale Alliance Church in Verndale with Pastor Tony Stanley officiating. Friends may call on Thursday from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Johnson-Schuller Chapel in Wadena. Visitation will resume on Friday at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. Surrounded by family, Lowell passed away on Tuesday, November 5, 2013, at his home in Staples under the care of Heartland Hospice. He was 93 years old. Lowell Dean Thompson was born July 5, 1920, to Neal and Selma (Andersen) Thompson at the Updike Ranch at Herman, NE. He grew up and went to school at Blair. At age 17, he joined the CCC and worked in the Black Hills of South Dakota for one year, and later for the B.B. Cattle Feeders at Omaha Stock Yards in Omaha. In August of 1942, he was drafted into the army, spending one year in training and being promoted to 1st Sergeant. He spent 5 months of training in England before going into battle at the Normandy Invasion on June 28, 1944. While in WWII he was in five battles including the Battle of The Bulge where he received the Purple Heart. After his honorable discharge in September of 1945, he started farming and raising cattle. On January 29, 1950 he married Arelene Benjamin at Laurel, NE. They farmed near Dixon, where they raised their five children, Deanna, James, Marsha, Daniel and Brenda. In 1968, they bought the Rocking Diamond Ranch east of Nimrod, MN having a cow/calf operation. In 1979, they sold the ranch and built a log home south of Blue Grass. Lowell did construction for 12 years working for Marley Cooling Towers in several states. In 1991, he retired from construction and moved back to the log home and raised cattle again, and in 1997 they moved to Verndale. Lowell was a life time member of the Wadena VFW Post 3922, and a member of the Mid-MN Beef Growers Association. He loved farming with John Deere tractors and riding through his cattle with his horse Sonny and his dog Skippy. Family meant alot to him. He is survived by his wife Arelene of Verndale; daughters Deanna Thompson of Motley, Marsha (Mike) Achermann of Darby, MT, and Brenda (Tim) Huwe of Park Rapids; sons James (Vickie) of Verndale, and Daniel of Wadena; sisters Alice Madsen, Nila Matzen, Gloria Jensen and sister-in-law Judy Thompson all of Blair, NE; 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren & one great-great-grand child; along with several nieces and nephews. Lowell is preceded in death by his parents Neal and Selma; brothers Harley and Elton; one sister Mildred Wallace; brothers-in-law Wesley Wallace, Marlin Matzen, Albert Madsen, Ron Jensen; and sister-in-law Ethel Thompson. Military honors will be provided by the Elmer Goche Post 3922, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wadena, MN. Honorary pallbearers will be all of Lowell’s grandchildren. Serving as pallbearers will be Robert Steinbach, Roy Bell, Gerhart Thompson, Garry Anderson, Kenneth Burcham and Bryan Haase. Burial will be in the Greenlawn Cemetery at Verndale, MN.

Lowell "L.D." Thompson

July 5, 1920 - November 5, 2013