Kalmer Thompson, age 96, of Ulen, MN, died Friday, July 29, 2016, at Villa Maria Nursing Home in Fargo, ND.

Kalmer Gilmer Thompson, son of Knute and Minnie (Lien) Thompson, was born June 8, 1920, at home on the farm. He grew up in the Flom, MN, area attending country school through the 8th grade. His first two years of school, Kalmer only spoke Norwegian. As a young man, he helped on the family farm and volunteered with the United States Army during WWII. January 14, 1942, Kalmer entered active duty in a period of time he would not soon forget. He chose paratrooper training for his specialty none other than it sounded interesting to a young man from Flom. Kalmer was part of an elite team as this was the first time that paratroopers would be used in war. A small part of his battalion was sent overseas, sailing on the Queen Elizabeth before arriving in Scotland. He was promoted to a Corporal in the 509th Battalion, also known as the "Gingerbread Men". Kalmer was deployed in Operation Torch in the first combat jump in the war in North Africa. As the war raged on, his battalion would make many more drops before being captured by the Germans in Italy on February 29, 1944. The men were marched to a prison camp, Stalag 7a, in Austria. With few things to do, the time passed slowly until waking up one morning and finding all the German prison guards gone. The day was May 7, 1945, and he knew VE Day had arrived. With nowhere to go and being too weak to travel, the POW's stayed at camp until Russian soldiers liberated them. On August, 25, 1945, Kalmer was honorably discharged and returned home to purchase a farm. Kalmer was united in marriage to Gloria "Bootsie" Albertson in Hitterdal, MN, on October 9, 1950. The couple farmed and began a family. They lived in Paynesville, MN, from 1953 until 1957, before moving back to the farm, where they raised five children and resided after retiring from farming. They recently moved to Villa Maria Nursing Home in Fargo.

Over the years, Kalmer enjoyed many activities including horseshoes, fishing and trapping gophers. He was known to be both funny, with his great sense of humor, and being a bit stubborn. He was loving, caring and very generous, always providing for his family, especially his grandchildren. Kalmer always liked spending time and having conversations with his grandkids. He shared with them many stories and life lessons including the fact that things are always changing. In recent years, Kalmer began sharing stories from his war years which was difficult to talk about for many years. He will be greatly missed by many.

Kalmer is survived by his wife of 65 years, Bootsie, Ulen; sons, Dan, Ulen and Steven (Becki), Oakes, ND; three daughters: Jenifer (Mark) Spielman, Twin Valley and Sandra (Darrel) Seeger, Pelican Rapids, MN; Jane Thompson (Steve Hacker), Fargo, ND, six grandchildren: Kay, Kelly, Tammi, Stefanie, Dustin and Kyle; nine great-grandchildren: Cassie, Trina, Alanis, Carissa, Leah, Mason, Alexis, Lily and Owen; two sisters, Mazel Albertson, California, and Eileen Fields, Texas and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers, Jerome, Clayton, Arlo, Duane, Alfred, and sisters, Ethel and Vivian.