Willard Thompson, 80, of Ulen, MN, died Thursday, December 05, 2013, in Essentia Health, Fargo.

Willard George Thompson was born August 28, 1933, the son of Tilliam and Lena (Boland) Thompson near Lisbon, ND. Willard was baptized and confirmed in that area, as well as attending school in Lisbon. In 1959, Willard was drafted into the United States Army where served in Korea and received an honorable discharge from the Army Reserve in 1964. Willard then returned to Lisbon to help on the family farm. On March 30, 1961, Willard was united in marriage to Dorothy L. Noe. The couple made their home near Lisbon on a farm for a time before moving to Lake Park in 1963 where they owned a dairy farm. In 1970 they moved to Ulen and together raised six children. Dorothy passed away in October of 2000.

Willard loved music. He had Willies Band for several years and later played with Ulen Country Melodies. He also enjoyed playing music in his own at home. In 2008, Willard moved to Lake Park where he spent most of his time with his brother, Roger, mowing lawn and gardening. In January of 2013, he moved back to Ulen to live with his daughter until his death.

Willard's greatest joy was watching his son, Randy, and his granddaughter, Natasha, race on Sundays in Glyndon and Fergus Falls. He also cherished meeting his two great grandsons, Jackson Vacker and Wyatt Bjerke, and having all of his grandchildren together for his 80th birthday.

Willard is survived by his five sons: Dale, Randy (Roxanne), Terry, William and Dean all of Lake Park, MN; his daughter, Sheryl (Eric) Gillespie of Ulen; 10 grandchildren: Michelle (Chad) Bjerke and Natasha Thompson of Lake Park, Amber (Mitchell) Vacker, Carl Saarinen and Crystal Saarinen of Big Sandy, TN, Tiffany Thompson of Moorhead, MN, Sara Raugutt of Fargo, ND Channon Raugrett of Grand Forks, ND, Shanae and Chelsie Sakrismo of Ulen; brothers, James (Doris) of Wheatland, ND, Roger and Robert (Judy) all of Lake Park; sisters, Doris (Kermit) Lomsdalen of Ulen, Shirley (Jon) Knutson of Lake Park, Linda (Jerry) Gerner and Janice (Jim) Phillips both of Moorhead, and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothy; brothers, Donald and Gary; and a sister-in-law, Audrey.

Funeral Services were Tuesday, December 10th, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, Ulen. Visitation was Monday, December 9th, 2013, from 5-7 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m. at the church. Visitation was also one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

Interment was in Calvary Lutheran Cemetery, Ulen.