K. Thor Thompson

K. Thor Thompson

Kenneth Thor Thompson, or Thor, as he was known, was taken to his heavenly home on July 23, 2021 surrounded by loving family, after a 2-year illness with leukemia.  He was so grateful he had those two years to finish many projects.

Thor was born April 12, 1937 on the family farm near Brocket, ND.  He was the third child of Thor Mathias and Alma Louise Sanden Thompson, joining his brother Marlin and sister Thelma.  He was baptized in the Vaage Lutheran Church at Brocket and confirmed in his faith in 1951 by Reverend Raymond Brien.  Thor attended school in Brocket and graduated as salutatorian of the class of 1955.  He started farming immediately with the help of Bob Smith.  Thor raised sheep, cattle, turkeys, and many crops.  He and his wife Joanne owned and operated SunLac Inn in Lakota for many years.

At an early age Thor was interested in hunting game and fishing, starting at age 10.  Over the years he was able to hunt in western North Dakota, Canada, many southern Africa countries, Argentina, Texas, and Norway, where he had travelled eleven times.  He had a vast collection of trophies displayed at his home.  Many visitors enjoyed viewing them, including students, 4-H clubs, friends and family, and strangers.  His last hunting trip was in March 2021 with step-sons Mark and Jeff, and grandson Jacob.

In 1967 Thor took his grandmother Helene to Norway where they were greeted by many of Helene’s nieces and nephews.  This was the beginning of an enduring close relationship with Norway and his dozens of Norwegian cousins.

Thor and Joanne Schafer Kruckenberg were married September 4, 1976 at United Lutheran Church in Brocket.  They built a home northwest of Brocket at that time.  Thor embraced Joanne’s 3 sons, Jeffrey, Mark and David, as his own.  Thor had always wanted to hunt in Africa, so in 1999 he took Joanne and the boys to Zimbabwe.  That sparked a lifelong love of Africa even more, and resulted in 6 more African safaris with Mark.

Thor had been a member of Farm Bureau, was president of the board of Lillehoff Township for many years, secretary and president of United Lutheran Church where he was very active, and served on the United Lutheran Cemetery Board.  He served as president of Eventide/Heartland Care Board of Directors (formerly Lake Region Lutheran Home) for over 35 years.  He was instrumental in remodeling the building, the assisted living buildings, therapy and Alzheimer’s units, and the Chapel/all-purpose room.  On June 13, 2021 that room was dedicated as the Thompson Centrum in a ceremony attended by many good friends.  Recently he was serving on the Eventide Board.

Those left to mourn Thor’s passing and grateful for his life are his wife Joanne, step-sons Jeffrey Landsiedel (Tili) of Phoenix, AZ, Mark Landsiedel (Cathy) of Anthem, AZ and their children Jacob Landsiedel of Tucson, AZ and Emma Landsiedel of Arlington, MA, and David Kruckenberg (Kim) of Matthews, NC, brother Marlin Thompson and family of Boone’s Mill, VA, sister Thelma Schaeffer and son of Bismarck, ND, and many cousins in Norway.

He also leaves special people who enriched his life, including Jason Ramberg and his family of Langdon, ND and Robbin & Doris McMorran of Brocket.

Thor was preceded in death by his parents, baby brother Glen, in-laws Leo and Iva Tysver Schafer, and brothers-in-law Kenneth Jacob and Ervin Schaeffer.

Conducting services at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 28 at United Lutheran Church in Brocket will be Reverend Jodi Myrvik and Lay Minister Shilice Larsen.  Burial will be in the Vaage Lutheran Cemetery near Brocket.  Visitation will be held at the Aaker Funeral Home of Lakota, ND, on Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and will continue at the church on Wednesday, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the charity of one’s choice.

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