Lester Thompson, 100, of Mahnomen, MN died Wednesday, September 16, 2009, at the Mahnomen Health Center Nursing Home.


Lester Adolph Thompson was born December 5, 1908 near Vig, South Dakota, the son of Bernt and Olava (Olson) Thompson. He was raised there until moving with his family to Chief Township, rural Mahnomen, Minnesota. He attended county school at the Agnes School House. As a young man he farmed with his brother, Bennie, in eastern Norman County. On June 22, 1940 Lester was united in marriage to Luella Nelson at the Lutheran parsonage at Rindal, Minnesota. They made their home on a farm east of Bejou, Minnesota, in Chief Township. They operated the farm for over 60 years together. Lester and Luella moved into Mahnomen in 2001 but Lester continued to drive out to the farm and help whenever he was needed. Lester entered the Mahnomen Health Center January 2008.


Lester could fix most anything and it was pretty well understood that if he couldn't fix it - it was unfixable. He was also well known for his smile and his willingness to help anyone. Lester's first tractor was a Minneapolis Moline Z and he always had a love for the Moline tractors. He also enjoyed playing whist and doing woodworking. Over the years he served on the PCA board, and many years on both the township board and church council.


Lester is survived by a daughter, LouAnn (Mervin) Sirjord, Bejou, Minnesota and a son, Lynn (Betty) Thompson, Mahnomen, Minnesota; seven grandchildren; 17 Great Grandchildren; 3 step Great Grandchildren; and two Great-Great Grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Luella, all of his brothers and sisters, and two grandsons, Gary & Dale Sirjord.



Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 10:00AM at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bejou, MN. Visitation will be held at the church on Friday, September 18, from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, with a Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m., and also one hour prior to the funeral. Pastor Nathan Baker-Trinity will officiate with Angie Witcomb serving as organist. Naomi Steimetz will serve as soloist. His pallbearers will be his grandchildren: Mark Sirjord, Denise Halland, Terri Sirjord, Shawn Halvorson, Matthew Sirjord, Michael Thompson, Lucie Thompson and David Thompson. Honorary pallbearers will be all of his great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, Chelsea, Troy, Rachel, Shelby, Bailey, Natalie, Joshua, Nicholas, Nina, Jordan, Abigail, Briana, McKenzie, Megan, Chase, Isabelle, Gunner, Trevor, Jackson, Noah, Mya and Mea.


Interment will take place at Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery, Mahnomen.