Marvis Thompson

Marvis (Marv) Davane Thompson was born September 17, 1941, at home in Gary, MN, to Bennie and Evalena (McCollum) Thompson. Marvis was raised in Gary where he attended school. 

Marvis moved to Hawley, MN where he worked at Sturdevant’s Auto Parts. While living in Hawley, Marv would frequent the Riverside Inn. During one of those visits he met Marjorie Johnson, the love of his life and they married September 6, 1964, at Hawley Lutheran Church. They made their home in Hawley and started their family.

Marv and Margie moved to Perley, MN, in 1970. Marv had begun his career as a custodian for the Moorhead Public Schools on July 8, 1968. He attended Air Conditioning and Refrigeration School allowing him to be certified to work on all the air and furnace equipment at the schools.  He would continue this career for the next 35 years, becoming the Maintenance Supervisor and making an impression on many young students. He was loved and respected by many Moorhead Public School teachers and staff at various schools. He retired on July 31, 2003. 

After retiring from the Moorhead School District, Marv became highly active on many community boards. He served on the Perley Fire and Rescue Squad, Lee Township Board, Red River Electric Cooperative Board for 17 years and the Square Butte Board of Directors for 10 years. He retired from service on the Red River Electric Coop and the Square Butte Board of Directors on March 31, 2023. At the time of his passing, he was still serving on the Perley Fire & Rescue Squad and the Lee Township Board. His longest community involvement was with the Kirkebo Lutheran Church, where he served on the Church Board for over 40 years. He took a lot of pride in his church service work and his faith was second to none.

Marv loved sports and took great pride in attending all of his children’s sporting events, trying to never miss one. He got even more joy at attending his grandchildren’s sporting and school events and would attend as many as he possibly could. On Sundays in the fall and winter you could always find him watching the Vikings, yelling at the TV, as if the players could hear him; and in the spring and summer if the Minnesota Twins were “blacked out” from being on TV, you would find him sitting at the kitchen table listening to the radio until the bitter end of every game. You could not find a more devoted Minnesota Vikings and Twins fan.  Lately, he had been following the Minnesota Timberwolves as well; a true avid sports fan.

Marvis and Margie were married 56 years until Margie passed on June 8, 2021. Marv was truly heartbroken and missed Margie deeply until his passing. Marvis died Friday, May 24, 2024, at his home. He was 82 years old. He will be dearly missed by his family and many more.

He is survived by his children, Kevin (Jill) Thompson, Menahga, MN, Deanne (Todd) Warner, West Fargo, ND, Darren (Rosy) Thompson, Bozeman, MT, and Kent (Ronda) Thompson, Ada, MN; seven grandchildren, Ashley (Trevor) Braeger, Karley (fiancé Isaac Habedank) Warner and Adam ( Abby Steffan) Thompson, Zackary Rkyman, Marissa, Abby Thompson, and Teegan Haugo; siblings, Sharon (Tom) Johnson, Caren Mikesh and Bonnie Gay Thompson; sister-in-law, Gloria Thompson;  and several nieces and nephews.

Marvis was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marjorie (Margie) Thompson; siblings, Evelyn (Evie) Mickelson, Bennielee (Sonny) Thompson, Gerald Thompson, Melvin Thompson; brother-in-law, Paul Mickelson; sisters-in-law, Theresa Thompson and Joyce Thompson.

A Visitation for Marvis will begin at 12:00 PM, Friday, May 31, 2024, followed his Funeral Service at 2:00 PM, in Kirkebo Lutheran Church, Perley, MN.  

He will be laid to rest in Kirkebo Lutheran Cemetery, Perley, MN.  

(Korsmo Funeral and Cremation Service, Moorhead)