Kenneth T. Thompson, 93, of Willmar, died Wednesday, November 7, 2012, at his home.  His funeral was held at Calvary Lutheran Church Chapel in Willmar with burial in Big Grove Lutheran Cemetery, rural Belgrade.  Visitation was at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar.

Ken was born February 8, 1919, at home in rural Belgrade, the son of Andrew (and Tina) Fauskee Thompson.  He was baptized and confirmed at Big Grove Lutheran Church in North Fork Township.  He attended country school at District #66 and graduated from Brooten High School in 1938, where he enjoyed basketball.  He attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, for one year and during his second year was drafted into WWII, where he served over four years with duty in the Pacific Theater in the Army Air Force, until the end of the war.  While in the Military, some of the awards Ken earned were Sharpshooter in Rifle, Machine Gun, and Pistol.

Prior to his service in WWII, Ken met his future wife, Elsie Peterson at a dance in Glenwood, at the Lakeside Ballroom.  After he was drafted, they made a commitment to wait for each other.  While on a furlough, they were married on November 15, 1944, in Glenwood, Minn.

After WWII, Ken and Elsie moved to the cities and made their home in the St. Louis Park area, where he attended the Academy of Accountancy.  Ken worked as an accountant in several manufacturing companies throughout his career.

Ken enjoyed fishing and traveling and made several trips to his ancestral home of Norway.  He spoke very fluent Norwegian and was confirmed in Norwegian.  Later in his life, he enjoyed family time at a lake home in Paynesville and at Backus, Minn.

He was known for his quick wit, always smiling, very easy to talk to and could always find something pleasant to say about someone.

Ken will be lovingly remembered by his family and friends.

Surviving are his wife of 68 years, Elsie; children, Steve (and Jeanne) Thompson of Plymouth, and Mary (and Ron) Fake of Willmar; five grandchildren, Brandon Thompson, Chad Thompson, Angela Thompson, David Fake, Daniel Fake; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Tina Thompson and brother, Ralph Thompson.