Kari Sue Thompson

Obituary

Kari Sue Thompson, 46, of Crookston, Minnesota, died late Thursday afternoon, May 4, 2006, at the Riverview Hospital in Crookston, with her family at her side. Kari courageously battled cancer for many months, and her resolve had been a source of inspiration to all who knew and loved her. Kari was born on January 2, 1960 at Olivia, Minnesota, the daughter of Del and Judy (Schroeder) Roelofs. She was baptized at the EUB Church in Danube, Minnesota and during her early years lived in the Minnesota communities of Eagle Bend and Glencoe. In 1971 the Roelofs family moved to Crookston and she started fifth grade in the Crookston Public Schools. From the age of ten, and through many of her teen years, Kari and her horse ""Rusty' competed in barrel racing and pole bending at rodeos throughout the Red River Valley. During her high school years she was very active in Crookston Pirate sports and music and was a 1978 graduate of Central High School. Kari went on to attend Moorhead (MN) State University where she played volleyball for two years and was the desk supervisor for Nelson and Grantham Halls. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Marketing from MSU in 1982. She then returned to Crookston and employment with the Crookston National Bank. On September 10, 1983, Kari was united in marriage to her college sweetheart, Ricky ""Jake' Thompson, at the First Presbyterian Church in Crookston. Kari left Crookston National to be the office manager of Crookston's Red River Distributing in the mid-1980's. In 1995 she became the Executive Director of the Crookston Economic Development Authority. Over the years Kari was a mainstay to the success of that organization and it was with a great deal of sadness that she left her position on March 20th of this year to dedicate herself to her family and her fight against cancer. Kari's involvement in the Crookston community spoke volumes about her joy in making it a great place to live. As a member of the First Presbyterian Church she was a church elder and Sunday School superintendent; a member of the church choir, bell choir, and director of the youth choir; a longtime Sunday School teacher and provider of nursery care; and active in the church's work group and it's stewardship drive. She was a member and former president of the Noon-Day Lions Club; a member of the Jaycee Women's organization; served on the board of directors of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority; served on the board of directors of the Villa St. Vincent; and was the treasurer of the Matron's Club. She was a co-chair of the United Way and had been a captain of the fund drives for many years. Kari's activities with the Crookston Chamber of Commerce over the years included the chamber's birthday celebration, being an ambassador, serving on the oxcart festival and farm women's appreciation committees, and as a co-chair of the Miss Crookston pageant. As a member of the Riverview Hospital Association Auxiliary Kari was very involved in the organization's Limited Edition open house held each Christmas and the annual Riverview Follies production. Her support of the Crookston Public Schools was evidenced by her serving on the Education Foundation board, the Pirate Booster board, the junior achievement committee, the PTO, and as a chaperone for many student dances and field trips over the years. First and foremost in Kari's life were her faith, and her family. She was a very much loved and loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, and cousin; and a dear friend to many. May God bless her memory. Family members include Rick, Kari's husband and best friend of twenty-two years; daughter, Alexia ""Alex', and son, Jacob ""Jake', both at home; her parents, Del and Judy Roelofs of Erskine, MN; brother and sister-in-law, Kyle and Barbara Roelofs of Glyndon, MN and nephews, Zachary, Jared, and Hayden. Also left to mourn her passing are her mother-in-law, Beverly Thompson of Lisbon, ND; her sisters-in-law, Cheryl (Mark) Kraft and nieces, Kelly and Sarah, Christi Thompson, and Sandra (Jeff) Hagen and nephews, Cody, Matthew, Trevor, and niece, Riley, all of Fargo, ND; brother-in-law, Steven Thompson of Plymouth, MN; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives. Kari was preceded in death by her father-in-law, Gerald ""Chris' Thompson; and her grandparents. The funeral service for Kari Sue Thompson will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9, 2006, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston, with the Rev. Daniel Wolpert, officiating. Visitation will be at the First Presbyterian Church in Crookston on Monday from 5-7:00 P.M., with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, and at Trinity for an hour before the funeral.