Benjamin G Thompson

Benjamin Gerald Thompson, age 90, died peacefully at his home with family by his side on May 29, 2022.He was born in Mobridge, South Dakota on February 24, l932, to Thomas and Hazel Thompson. During his "growing up" years, Ben (or Benny), loved to be outdoors with friends - swimming and fishing in the Missouri River and hunting pheasants in the hills around Mobridge. In high school, Ben participated in basketball, football, glee club, chorus, and playing his cornet in the band. In his words, "Benny" wanted to be " anywhere my friends were." After high school, Ben spent one year at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. Not sure what he wanted to do with his life, Ben enlisted in the United States Coast Guard where he trained to be a Radioman in Groton, Connecticut. During his three years of service, he served in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After his service, he enrolled in Pharmacy School at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD. graduating in1958. Ben felt the call to the "big city" of Minneapolis where he worked at several drug stores before joining the pharmacy staff at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale and retired in 2001 after 33 years. An ambitious accomplishment during a 3-year period was moving and restoring the l907 Mobridge State Bank, one of only a few historic metal-clad banks in the country, which now houses "Art on the Corner", where local artists display and sell their work. Photography, mainly using his Argus C-3 camera, was another long-time interest. Ben took photos of fields of sunflowers, birds, old buildings and anything that pleased his eye, had them framed, and. sold them at art fairs in the community. He has written and published two books, "Mobridge in History" and "Sagebrush and Wooden Ships" with the help of nephew, Mark "Sparky" Stensaas and son, Scott. Ben sang in the House of Hope choir for many years and was a member of the Small Jobs Maintenance Crew who met weekly for coffee, doughnuts, and conversation, after which they spent the morning working to keep HOH in fine order. He was a Boy Scout Leader when his sons were in Scouts, taking many trips of adventure through the years.

Ben leaves behind his wife of almost 64 years, Mae Lou, children Steven (Ron), Susan, (Brad), Scott (Candy), Karen (Jay) and grandchildren, Lauren, Megan, Joe (Natalie), Mallory (Taylor), and Jack.

Memorials may be given to House of Hope Lutheran, NEAR FOODSHELF, or PRISM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kapalaglodekmalone.com for the Thompson family.