Marlin Thompson

Marlin Dale Thompson was born February 20th, 1938 at home on the family farm located south of Holland, Minnesota in Grange Township. He died January 17, 2026 at 7:30 AM having reached the age of 87 years, 10 months and 28 days.

.He married Janice Mitchell in January of 1956. April 7th, 1957 he entered the United States Army and spent time stationed in Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and Fort Carson, CO. The majority of his military service was at Fort Sheridan, IL where he was a Section Chief at the launcher area in the Nike Ajax guided missile facility before being discharged June 14th, 1960 (with a rank of E-5), having served on active duty for 3 years and 2 months. He returned to Lake Benton, MN and joined the newspaper staff of the Lake Benton (MN) News (weekly newspaper) in August of 1960 and was employed there until November 1, 1963 when he purchased the newspaper from Ted E. and Evelyn Anderson. In September of 1968 he purchased the weekly newspaper at Tyler, MN and a commercial printing plant. He later combined the two newspapers and purchased a building in Lake Benton which housed the newspaper and commercial printing plant (Journal Printing Co., Inc.), and in August of 1984 purchased the weekly newspaper in Hendricks, MN.

On October 8th, 1986 he married Audrey (Hosmer) Nelson of Lake Benton, MN. Marlin and Audrey continued as owners of the newspaper and printing plant until they sold the businesses October 1, 1997. They continued to reside in Lake Benton until August of 2002 when they moved to Marshall, MN. In May 2007 they moved to the Twin Cities area, living in Prior Lake for a short time and later that year moving to Chanhassen, MN. In June 2009 the couple purchased a condo in Aspen Heights, Sioux Falls, SD and since 2019 have chosen apartment-living.

During his residency in Lake Benton Marlin served in a number of community and county capacities: was mayor of Lake Benton for a total of 11-plus years which spanned four successive decades; assisted in forming Lake Benton Housing, Inc. and was its initial president; was among the initial organizers of Lake Benton Historical Society and served as its first president; held the office of secretary in the Lake Benton Service Club (1963); was a charter member of Lake Benton Lions Club and held numerous offices; member of Lake Benton Lions Clown group; served as president of the Lake Benton Parent-Teachers Association (PTA); co-chairman of Lake Benton Centennial in 1979; served on Lincoln County Centennial Committee in 1973; member of Lincoln County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) and held the offices of vice chairman and chairman; secretary of Benton Valley Development; Lake Benton Memorial Hill Cemetery Association board member for 20 years during which he held the offices of vice president and president; served as chairman of Lincoln County Joint Cities; and also served in various other committee capacities.

Marlin enjoyed a number of outdoor activities during his lifetime including various game hunting (especially deer with bow and arrow); fishing (for many years he and two fishing buddies traveled to Wyoming in late fall to enjoy angling for rainbow trout); water skiing, snowmobiling, bowling with the team he sponsored, and golf. He also enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. and for many years made an annual trip to Las Vegas. Marlin was an ardent follower of the Minnesota Gophers football and basketball teams (he and Audrey attended the Gophers’ Final Four appearance in the NCAA men’s basketball tourney at Indianapolis in 1997 which was another enjoyable experience)

He was baptized at the Presbyterian Church in Holland, attended Westminister Fellowship and was the Holland church’s youngest member at the age of 11. After moving to Lake Benton he joined Diamond Lake Lutheran Church and later Grace Lutheran in Lake Benton when the two churches merged. He was active in church activities and served on the church council. After moving to Marshall he became a member of St. Stephen Lutheran Church. He became a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls after moving to that community.

Marlin had three children from his first marriage: Curtis (1956-1982), who died as the result of an auto accident; Mary Lou (1958-1977), who died in an auto accident; and Carol (1959). Carol and her husband, Alan Erschens, live in Grimes, IA (located near Des Moines).

Marlin is survived by his wife Audrey (Audie); daughter Carol (Alan) Erschens, Grimes, IA; three grandchildren: Holly (Jeremiah) Strehlow, North Liberty, IA; Abby (Joe) Stickel, Waukee, IA; Megan Erschens, Grimes, IA; great grandchildren Michael, Kailey, Harper and Ethan Strehlow, Skylar Jayne and Gweneth Brianne Stickel, Lydia Pearl Erschens; stepchildren Kim (Michelle) Nelson, Sioux Falls, SD; Deborah Nelson, Richfield, MN; Robin (Felix) Bocanegra, Canton, SD; Nikole (Randy) Coleman, Apple Valley, MN; ten step-grandchildren: Ross Nelson; Joey (Kelsey) Nelson; Matthew (Jen) Zimmer; Mitchell (Amanda) Zimmer; Destinae Bocanegra, Shannon (Josh) Arrospide, Natalia Walton; Mikayla (James) Tabery; Tyson and Jenaye Coleman; step-great grandchildren Nora Zimmer; Viktor Nelson; Evan, Kane and Jack Tabery; Deseo Whitebear and Arthur Kenyon; brother-in-law Duane Johnson and several nieces and nephews.

Marlin was preceded in death by two children (Curtis and Mary Lou); one grandchild (Stacy); his parents (Albert S. and Vera); brother Albert (Abe); sister Beverly Johnson; half-sister Alma Doekson; and five half brothers (Gerald, Kenneth, Harley, Wayne and Vernon Houchen).