Mark Robert Thompson

Mark Robert Thompson, age 75, of Bemidji, Minnesota, passed away peacefully at Sanford
Bemidji Medical Center, surrounded by his family.
Mark and his twin brother, Mike, were born to Helen and Roy Thompson on May 2, 1950 in
Bagley, MN. Mark was one of eight children in the family. He grew up on a farm, where he
developed a lifelong appreciation for hard work, self-sufficiency, and caring for the land.
He attended the University of Minnesota Crookston, where he studied agriculture. In 1971, Mark
worked aboard the SS Kingsman, an iron ore vessel operating on Lake Superior, Lake Huron,
and Lake Erie.
Mark joined the United States Air Force in 1972, where he served as a Morse systems operator.
He spent three years overseas, stationed in Italy and Turkey. He was honorably discharged in
1978 and received the National Defense Service Medal and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal.
He was also in the Minnesota National Guard.
Back home in Bemidji, Mark worked for Cass County performing tree surveys. He was a
longtime member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cass Lake, MN, before later attending Trinity
Lutheran Church in Bemidji, MN.
Mark met his wife, Minda, in 1992. They were married for 32 years and raised three children
together. He often said that his family was his greatest gift. Later in his career, Mark worked at
NuPly/Georgia Pacific and later at Bemidji High School and Lincoln Elementary School as a
custodian, where he remained until his retirement in 2016.
Mark loved his family, spending time in nature, tending to his hobby farm, fishing, watching the
Minnesota Twins, learning about history, and his faith in God. He will be remembered for his
love of simplicity, his reliability, and his quiet strength. He was someone you could always
depend on and was a great friend.
Mark is survived by his loving wife, Minda Thompson, of Bemidji, MN; his children, John
(Jordan) Abne, of Fayetteville, NC, JeanMari Thompson (partner, Shea Sexton), of St. Paul,
MN, and Jenna (Lukas) Halberg, of Columbia Heights, MN; his grandchildren, Kyan and Karson
Stone-Thompson, John Logan Abne, and Jameson Abne; his siblings, Mike Thompson, of
Bemidji, MN, Tim (Deb) Thompson, of Bemidji, MN, Dan (Lori) Thompson, of Bemidji, MN, Andy
(LuAnn) Thompson, of Bemidji, MN, Julie Larson (late husband, Michael MaGaurn), of Cottage
Grove, MN, Mary (Jack) Maas, of Post Falls, ID, and Chris Thompson, of Bemidji, MN; as well
as his sisters-in-law, Mila Abne, of Siquijor, Philippines, Jinaly Abne, of Siquijor, Philippines, and
many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Helen Thompson, father, Roy Thompson, mother-in-law,
Lolita Abne, father-in-law Anaclito Abne, and brother-in-laws, Michael MaGaurn, Joseph Abne,
and Nestor Abne.