Stella died Friday, March 16, 2012 at the Chippewa County - Montevideo Hospital in Montevideo at the age of 93.
Funeral service was Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 11:00 AM at Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson with Pastor Kendall Stelter and Pastor John Biggs officiating; family reflections were given by Karen Herdegen and Mary Gritmacker read Psalm 23; vocalist, Diane Bergeson sang “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” and “In the Garden” and organist, Deb Lewis accompanied the congregation in singing “Amazing Grace” and “Softly and Tenderly.” Jeff Amundson, Jerry Amundson, Jason Mamer, David Craigmile, Tom Quirk and Richard Rimstad were casketbearers and entombment was at Terrace Lawn Memory Gardens in Montevideo.
Stella Merene Thompson was born May 17, 1918 at Dawson, MN the daughter of Anton and Cora (Quenemoen) Hanson. She was baptized and confirmed at Lac qui Parle Lutheran Church and grew up on a farm north of Dawson. Stella attended rural school in District #43 and also attended high school in Madison. She was united in marriage to A. Melvin Thompson September 1, 1951 at Lac Qui Parle Lutheran Church. All of their married life was spent on their farm in Maxwell Township. Stella was a member of the Maxwell Homemakers Club. She enjoyed quilting, gardening, flowers, birds, sewing, and canning. She was active at Grace Lutheran Church where she participated in Bible study, Mary Circle, and Do Day Ladies. She was very supportive of the youth activities and the intern program at church. Stella loved fellowship with friends and neighbors.
She is survived by a sister, Alfreda Amundson of Apple Valley, MN; a brother-in-law, Howard Berg of Grand Forks, ND; and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Melvin on March 10, 2000; and two sisters: Myrtle Sigdahl of Dawson, MN and Verna Berg of Grand Forks, ND.
Memorials are preferred to Grace Lutheran Church.