Richard E. “Dick” Thompson
Sunday, May 21, 1939
Date of Death:
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Age:
79 years old
Visitation
Date: Friday March 01, 2019
Time: 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]
Second Visitation
Date: Saturday March 02, 2019
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]
Funeral Service
Date: Saturday March 02, 2019
Time: 11:00 am
Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]
Burial
Location: Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery Preston [ view map ]
Sunday, May 21, 1939
Date of Death:
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Age:
79 years old
Sunday, May 21, 1939
Date of Death:
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Age:
79 years old
Richard E. “Dick” Thompson
Richard E. “Dick” Thompson of Rochester died Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at St. Marys Hospital.
Dick was born May 21, 1939 in Greenwood, IN. He was the eighth child born to Virgil and Martha Thompson. Dick was a member of the graduating class of 1957 from Greenwood High School. Following high school, he worked for Indiana Bell Telephone until joining the U.S. Navy in October of 1958. During his eight years in the Navy, he spent two and a half years stations on the staff of U.S. Naval Activities at Port Lyautey, Morocco, and four years at the Naval Examining Center at North Chicago, during which time he met his future wife, Elvina Tichy. Dick and Elvina were married December 17, 1966 in Mundelein, IL.
Dick spent 44 years involved in the electric fencing industry and served as Vice President of Waters Instruments, North Central Plastics, and Zereba Systems before retiring in 2010.
Dick was a 47 year member of Homestead United Methodist Church. He often said, “the only thing they have not asked me to do is sing.” Dick was a Master of Rochester Masonic Lodge 21 AF & AM, President of the Minnesota Masonic Foundation, Potentate of Osman Shrine, and an emeritus member of the Board or Governors for Twin Cities Shriners Hospital for Children.
Dick is survived by his wife, Elvina; son, Dean (Jennifer) Thompson; daughter, Sarah (David) Holmes; grandson, Andrew Thompson; granddaughters, Rachel Thompson, and Teagan, Claire and Quinn Holmes; brother, Bernard of Taylors, SC. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Howard, LeRoy, Robert, and Calvin; and four sisters, Francis, Rella, Nancy, and Judith, all of Greenwood, IN.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 2nd in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with Pastor Luke Nelson officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 1st with a Masonic services at 7:00 p.m. in the River Park Chapel. There will also be a visitation one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Burial and Military Honors will be in MN State Veterans Cemetery in Preston, MN. on Tuesday March 5, 2019.
Memorials are preferred to Twin Cities Shriners Hospital for Children or Homestead Church in Rochester.
Condolences
The family of Richard E. “Dick” Thompson has received the following condolences.
Elvie and family,
Bill and I send our prayers for your days ahead. May you feel His love holding you. We both fondly remember Dick’s dedication to service in the church.
Elvie,
I am so sorry about Dick's passing! My sincerest condolences. You and Dick were always so kind to me at Church. Dick alwys had a smile. Praying for you and your family.
God bless.
Le Ann Miller
Dear Thompson Family -
We are so sorry we cannot attend Dick's visitation and funeral service. This weather has put a damper on our travel and roads are still snowy and icy, with snow falling again here. You are sent our most deepest sympathy and breaks our heart that we won't be able to visit him again. We enjoyed the times we were together in family get togethers and memories will always remain. May God be with you, Elvina and all your family. We think of all the relatives and friends that are joining our son, Perry and know they are with our Lord in heaven. Our Love - Fred and Millie Grap, Neillsville, Wi.
Elvina so sorry for your loss of Dick.
We will remember when we came to Homestead, Dick always
Greeted us and had a few minutes to chat..He made us feel welcome.1
He will be missed, but you have many years of memories.
Dear Alvie, Dean and Sarah, We were so saddened to hear of Dick’s passing He was such a great guy and natural born motivator and as a very active participant in The Hawthorne School PTA, had many involved in the betterment of the school before they knew what hit them! Thanks Dick and Alvie for all your good works on behalf of all the students! We’re so glad our paths crossed! Deepest sympathy to you all and kudos to Dick on a life well lived!
I had the pleasure of working with Dick for many years as he sold products to our members and called on me at our St. Paul headquarters. He was such a wonderful and genuine man and he had many stories! I am so saddened for his family and his friends. He will be missed!
We are forever grateful for your service and your sacrifice. Rest in Peace my Veteran Brother.
Alvie & family, so sorry to hear of dick's passing. I served with dick on shrine hospital board with dick what a true gentelman & great freind for nine years. Always prepared and
having the best intrest of the mission the shrine has for the children. He always had his position well prepared. He wll be missed by many. DON MATTSON
RAPID CITY SO. Dakota
My heart aches at the news of Dick’s passing. My prayers to the Thompson family as they say good-bye to a Great man! I will never forget all that he and Elvie did for me at the passing of my brother and my dad. He was my go to guy the 12 years I served Homestead Church. His presence will be missed by all. Wish I could be there in person Elvie to give you a hug. You were much loved Dick, Rest In Peace.
Elvie and family, I am so very sorry to hear of the passing of your beloved husband, Dick. I hope that your wonderful memories of your long life together console you at this difficult time. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
I hold all of you in love and prayers.
Our deepest sympathies in the loss of Dick. He was a great man and will truly be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Thompson family.
Dan and Audrey Rasmussen
So sorry to hear of Dick's passing.I visited with him last in December & I won't ever forget what he said to me about making sure Elvie would be taken care of something was to happen to him.That is true love from a loving person
So sorry to see Dick's obituary in the Post Bulletin today. I worked at Waters Instruments repairing electric fence controllers one summer back in the early 70's.
Dick was a very nice man and a good supervisor. May the Holy Spirit bless you with peace, strength, and comfort as you mourn the loss of Dick.
We are sad for your loss of Dick. He was always so kind to everyone, always concerned about things, concerned about people. I know your hearts are heavy at this time, he will be missed.
Always keep happy times in your hearts and in your minds. He was always proud of his family.
Just want you to know your friends care about you.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
I had the great privilege of working with Dick at waters instruments.
Elvie and Family~ So sorry to hear about Dick, keeping thoughts and prayers with you all.
Dawn
Our profound condolences to Elvie and family. Through all the years we met him in the Shriners, he was always a great person and true friend to all. He was a special mentor to our brother John for which we are forever grateful. The world just got a bit smaller for us all at his leaving. So sad.
My sincere condolences to Dick's family. So sorry for your loss. He was a great man and a mentor to me for so many years.
He was an instrumental person in my upbringing through church and working at Waters Instruments during my summer's in high school and college.
I can still hear and my dad joking around about the world and sports. Many times we'd be at church and I'd beg and beg to have them take me golfing right after the service let out. Of course, that wasn't in their plans for that day but my persistence would pay off and we'd meet at Soldiers Field and have a great afternoon walking and talking. I think Dick admired my dad for being from Rochester and a physician and I think my dad admired Dick for being a successful business executive because my dad knew so little about business, but appreciated learning from him.
Dick's guidance helped me find a career path in sales and marketing. He was such a resource of information and knew what it took to be a successful sales executive. What I found so beneficial is that he shared the good, the bad and the ugly about the sales profession. Didn't sugar coat anything either. Just his experiences and what I should watch out for. How lucky I was.
Last time I saw Dick was at a lunch a few years ago with our good pal Erling Burns. Was so great to catch up on each others lives and I could tell they were proud of what I accomplished given I was a punk growing up when they were sharing all of their wisdom with me hoping some of their words would sink in.
At the end of lunch I told both of them I loved them. And I meant it more then they'll ever know.
Rest in peace, Dick.
So sorry to hear of Dick's passing. We are in Nevada and won't be back in time; but, we want to send our love and prayers to the whole family. Alvina, please call us if you need help with anything around the house. We hope to get home March 9th.
So very sorry to hear about Dick. We will always remember is kind and loving spirit. He was always wanting to make sure everything and everyone was taken care of. He was a delightful, caring and sincere person. He will be missed! So glad we had a nice visit at the Pote's Valentine dinner. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family during this difficult time.
Elvie, Sarah & Dean, We are so sorry for your loss. He was a great family man and friend to so many. We are remembering all of the good times, meals, laughs and adventures that we all had. Dick could always come up with something different to do. We will always remember spending time with the family. RIP