Kenneth L. Thompson

Kenneth L. Thompson, 89, of Aberdeen, passed away Friday, January 29, 2016, at Bethesda Home of Aberdeen.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, February 5, 2016, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 409 2nd Avenue NE, Aberdeen, with Father Michael Griffin as celebrant.

Burial, with military rites, will take place at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Aberdeen.

Schriver's Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, February 4, 2016, at the mortuary, with a liturgical wake at 7 p.m., followed by a rosary, led by the Knights of Columbus.

Ken was born November 10, 1926, near Columbia, SD to Gilbert and Olga (Christenson) Thompson. He graduated from Barnard High School in 1944 and joined the Army Air Corps the same year. He returned to the family farm in 1946.

On September 20, 1952 he married Eileen Schoch. In 1956 he began a long and distinguished federal career serving as a hospital administrator at various Midwestern locations. He transferred back to Aberdeen in 1971 where he served as a contract specialist for the Indian Health Service until his retirement in 1986. Following his retirement he completed his degree at Northern State University. Upon his graduation he began a new career as supervisor at the Brown County Juvenile Detention Center. He retired again after several years to care for his wife, Eileen, until her passing in 1996.

Ken was very active in various service organizations, including the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE), the Sons of Norway and the Knights of Columbus. In his later years he took up running. He completed numerous road races and several marathons. He also continued to expand his horizons by traveling. He visited all 50 states, Norway (twice), Europe and the British Isles. He loved doing crossword puzzles and the word jumble. But above all his accomplishments Ken particularly excelled at being a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother. He was a good friend to many and a recipient of their friendship in return.

He is survived by his children, Laura, Minneapolis; Charlie (Debbie), Minneapolis; Tom (Jeanette), Pierre; grandchildren: Jaclyn (Brian) Hime; Spencer Thompson, Daniel Thompson and Sydney Thompson; and great-grandchildren: Paityn Hime and Jacob Hime. He is also survived by a sister, Betty (Roger) Wolff of Watertown.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Avera At Home Hospice.