Joe Thompson

Joe Everett Thompson, 85, of Willmar, died Tuesday, July 28th at his home.  A private family service will be held with interment in Fairview Cemetery in Willmar.  A recording of his Memorial Service will be posted to our website, www.hafh.org, following the completion of his Memorial Service.  Memorials may be given to Carris Health Cancer Center, 301 Becker Ave SW, Willmar, MN 56201.  Funeral arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home.   www.hafh.org

Joe was born December 3, 1934, in Mason City, Iowa, the son of Theodore and Lucille (Atkinson) Thompson.  He grew up and graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1952.  He continued his education at Hamline University where he graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in political science and he was a member of Pi Gamma Mu.  He then attended The St. Paul College of Law which became William Mitchell College of Law where he graduated in 1960. 

He was united in marriage to Carol Anderson on May 26, 1956, to which three children were born, Laura, Michael and Jennifer. He was united in marriage to Kay Blagsvedt Flaata on September 22, 1979 at the United Methodist Church in Willmar.  Following their marriage, they lived in Willmar while Joe was an attorney and partner in the law firm, Schmidt, Thompson, Johnson and Moody. He also served for a period of time as Kandiyohi County Attorney.  Joe was blessed and honored to practice law for more than 50 years.

There were numerous professional and community organizations that he belonged to, supported  and was proud to be a part of during his life which included: Willmar Civil Air Patrol, Minnesota Crime Victims Reparations Board, National District Attorneys Association, Criminal Courts Bar Association, Supreme Court of the State of Minnesota, American Arbitration Association, Willmar Municipal Utilities Commission, Willmar Charter Commission, American Board of Trial Advocates, Minnesota Bar Association, Elks Lodge #952, Willmar Area Shrine Club, and Willmar Sharon Lodge #104.  He also enjoyed riding his Harley-Davidson, fishing, hunting, and flying his airplane.  Joe was an avid reader, took up studying religion after he retired, enjoyed watching movies and oh yea, “debating with family and friends!”

Surviving are his wife, Kay; daughter, Laura Thompson of Las Cruces, NM; step-son, Richard Flaata of Buffalo; son-in-law, Michael Isaac; grandchildren: Dylan, Chris, Zoe, Drew, Jade, Ben, Parker and Brooke; and great grandchildren: Oscar, Maddy, Lola, Juniper and Sydney.  Also surviving are his father-in-law, Sid Blagsvedt; sisters-in-law, Colleen Michels, Carol Peterson and Pam Nelson; niece, Eileen Armitage, and nephews: Dan Thompson, Brian Peterson and Mitchell Peterson.

He was preceded in death by his father, Theodore Thompson; mother, Lucille Lysne; step-father, Laurence Lysne; son, Michael Thompson; daughter, Jennifer Thompson Isaac; brother, Bill Thompson; step-sister, Marjorie Swanson; as well as his mother-in-law, Dorothy Blagsvedt and brother-in-law, Ron Peterson.

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