John Thomas Thompson was born August 11, 1934 in Willmar, Minnesota, the son of Elmer and Olga (Monson) Thompson. John and his family attended Green Lake Lutheran Church near Spicer where he was baptized and took confirmation instruction. John attended grade school at Whittier Grade School in Kandiyohi. He graduated from Willmar High School with the Class of 1952. At Augsburg College in Minneapolis, John was involved in student government, was president of his class, played basketball and worked part time at a fountain shop. He majored in Secondary Education with a minor in Phy Ed, and graduated in 1956. On August 20, 1955, John was united in marriage to Donna Mae Dahlgren at Trinity Lutheran Church of Minnehaha Falls in South Minneapolis. They were blessed with five children and one foster child during 55 years of marriage. John was an educator, civic leader, church leader, public servant and volunteer. He taught at Benson High School for 36 years, teaching Social Studies, Government, History, Sales & Marketing (DECA) and coaching basketball, track, cross country for the Jr. High. John was a passionate supporter of his Benson area community and held elected positions on the Benson City Council, as Mayor of Benson, as Swift County Commissioner for District III, and as a leader on several regional government commissions. John was an active member of Kiwanis club and served on the Swift County Benson Hospital Board and Hospital Foundation for several years. John served on BEA board as chairman and often served as negotiator for the BEA teachers union. He was a member of the Benson Chamber of Commerce for many years. He owned and operated the Benson Car Wash as a family business for 27 years. John served as director on the MEA Board, as a delegate from West-Central Minnesota and attended several NEA teachers' national conventions. He was the honored recipient of two significant awards - as "Minnesota Teacher of the Year" finalist in 1966 and as "Outstanding Mayor of the Year" from outstate Minnesota cities. He was chairman of the Scofield Place Board from its inception and was instrumental in the development and operation of this senior living facility. He was an active member of the Sons of Norway, serving as an officer in the 1990's. John was a member of Our Redeemers Lutheran Church since 1957 and taught Sunday school, served on the church council, and on the church property board. John was treasurer with the regional chapter of Thrivent for several years. John and Donna were Friendly Visitors from the church and delivered Meals on Wheels every month. They were actively involved in settling Vietnamese refugees. John loved growing vegetables and flowers in his gardens and sharing his harvest with friends, family and neighbors. He loved to fish on Green Lake and spending summer Sundays and holidays with family at the Thompson cabin. John loved spending time with his family, children and spouses, 14 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. He especially enjoyed being a teacher and loving grandpa to his grandchildren and great grandchildren in recent years. John was called from this life on Monday, February 28, 2011 at Swift County Benson Hospital. He attained the age of 76 years, 6 months and 17 days. John is survived by his wife Donna of Benson; children: Stephen (Noreen) Thompson of Arden Hills, Jeanne (Steve) Martz of Phoenix, AZ, Mary (Steve) Smith of Shoreview, Ruth (husband Lynn Bode) Thompson of Duluth, James (Tammy) Thompson of Chanhassen and Scott (Stephanie) Pham of Sioux Falls, SD; fourteen grandchildren: Sarah Ashburn, Liz Yeager, Kristin Syltie, Kyle Thompson, Aaron Thompson, Lisa Wagner, Eric Plathe, Justin Thompson, Emily Thompson, Renee Smith, Thomas Thompson, Alex Pham, Roman Pham, and Melissa Pham; five great-grandchildren: Ryan, Darren, Alden, Wyatt, and Owen; sisters: Marge Snelling of Temecula, CA and Betty Luiten of Kennewick, WA; brothers: Ellsworth Thompson of Atwater and Don Thompson of Alexandria; and other relatives and friends. Preceding him in death were his parents Elmer and Olga; and brothers: Charles and Robert Thompson.
