McIntosh – Mark Thompson, age 59, of McIntosh, passed away on November 3, 2022, after a courageous battle with ALS, at Essentia Hospital in Fargo, ND. He was surrounded by the people he loved most: his wife and four children.
Mark was born on March 30, 1963, to Harald and Adella (Sylvester) Thompson of McIntosh. The youngest of four children, he spent equal parts being doted on and tormented by his three older sisters. After high school, he attended Northland Community College and Metropolitan State.
He married his long-time sweetheart, Karen Dillon, on September 17, 1983 and they moved to the Twin Cities area. Mark worked in the IT Industry for years before moving back to McIntosh to raise his family in the same home he grew up in.
Mark was an active community member serving on the school board and volunteering on the Fire Department. He was a Network Supervisor at Garden Valley Technologies for 26 years until his early retirement in 2020.
Mark packed so much life into his fifty-nine years. He fell in love, raised a family, held his grandkids close, traveled frequently, golfed and fished with his friends, worked in a profession he loved, volunteered in his community, played pinochle with his dad every Thursday, and visited with friends and family for countless hours in his shop. When others may have given into the pain and frustration of ALS, Mark put on his best Hawaiian shirt and battled what he knew from the start was an incurable disease. He did so with grace, dignity, integrity and courage. ALS did not beat Mark. Mark faced ALS head on, unafraid and armed with the love of his family.
He will be missed by his wife Karen, of 39 years; their four children, Kelsey Mahlum (Travis), Nicole Vettleson (Josh), Jordyn Zahn (Daros) and Matt Thompson (Paige Bellefy);
6 grandchildren, Easton, Bristol, Hudson and Watson Vettleson and Emree and Jude Zahn; his father, Harald Thompson; and three sisters, Ann Vesledahl (Bob), Naomi Hillgartner (Dennis) and Ruth Vetter (Wes).
Mark is preceded in death by his mother, Adella Thompson; and his dog, Bo.
Throughout Mark’s life, he made many special friendships and memories. We are especially grateful for the loved ones who reached out, and helped Mark make the most of his ALS diagnosis and find a new normal for him.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in McIntosh with the Rev. Keith Zeh officiating. Family will greet friends for one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of McIntosh. Messages of condolence may be shared and live-stream viewed at www.carlinfuneral.com.
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Mark Thompson, 59
