Wendell Thompson

Wendell Thompson passed away at The Neighborhoods nursing facility in Brookings at the age of 79 on October 21, 2025. Wendell was born on April 21, 1946 to Kenneth and Matilda (Til) Balster Thompson, the youngest of three sons. He grew up on the family farm of his homesteading great grandfather near Winfred, South Dakota, where he developed his own lifelong interest in agriculture.

After graduating from Winfred High School, he attended South Dakota State College (University) in Brookings. While in college, he met and married Marlys (Marly) Carlson, and together they raised their three sons. He became an active member of the Brookings community while building his own real estate company.

Outside of work he enjoyed participating in sports. For a number of years, he played a friendly game of basketball at 6:00 a.m., four days a week, at Frost Arena. He played volleyball through the Brookings Park and Rec program in the downtown Armory and tennis at Hillcrest Tennis Courts.

He always enjoyed visits with anyone having an agricultural connection and subscribed to farm magazines throughout his life. He collected stories from friends, neighbors, distant relatives, public records, and media to know the histories of his family and South Dakota.

He loved fishing the Missouri River and being outdoors with family and friends, and imagining the land as it would have been before his great grandfather arrived in what is now South Dakota. He and Marly once traveled the path of the Lewis and Clark expedition along the Missouri River, and to numerous State and National Parks.

Preceded in death by his parents and brother Leland.

He is survived by his wife Marlys; three sons, Nate and Deb (Eden Prairie, MN), David (Milwaukee), Ash and Andy (Athens, GA); Grandchildren, Brandt, Claire, Oscar, and Evelyn; brother Lowell and Ruth (Gillette, WY); sister-in-law Jean (Howard, SD)

The family invites all to come together to an open house celebration of life from 2-4pm on Monday, October 27, 2025 at McCrory Gardens in Brookings, with a short program at 2:30. Following the open house celebration, a private cemetery service will be held for the immediate family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent directly to the Brookings Humane Society (www.brookingshumane.org) or to the Wendell and Marlys Thompson Music Scholarship (www.sdsufoundation.org) or a charity of choice.