ESTHERVILLE — Lester Bernard Thompson, 95, died peacefully October 23, 2026, at Parc Hall in Emmetsburg, leaving a family who shared his humor, his love of Minnesota sports and his pride in generations of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, October 29, 2026, at Henry-Olson Funeral Chapel, 401 N. Seventh St. in Estherville. Funeral services will follow at 1:30 p.m. at the chapel. His final resting place will be East Side Cemetery in Estherville.
Lester was born July 23, 1931, in Jackson, Minnesota, to Ernest and Linda (Burke) Thompson. He graduated from Estherville High School before serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
His active military service ran from October 1952 through August 1954. He continued in the Army Reserve until his honorable discharge in September 1960. His military honors included the Korean Service Medal, Bronze Service Star, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal.
After returning to Estherville, Lester married Marian Trosin. They raised three children, Bart, Julie and Amy. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Estherville.
Known as Les, he spent 30 years working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a food safety and meat inspector at John Morrell & Company, formerly Tobin Meat Packing. He retired in September 1984. He later lived in Graettinger for 20 years before moving to Parc Hall in Emmetsburg.
Les followed the Minnesota Twins and Vikings, and his football loyalty became part of a long-running family agreement: A Vikings Super Bowl victory would mean a family vacation to Hawaii. As his family noted with humor, that trip never happened.
At home, he enjoyed feeding the birds, although squirrels and blackbirds were less welcome at his feeders. He would holler at the intruders and used a ball on a string, tossed against the window, to try to send them on their way.
Visits from his sister, Audrey, and her family, Chris, Vicki and Dale, were another pleasure. Their stays could last a week or longer and included outings to the casino.
Above all, Lester treasured his family. Watching his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow brought him joy and gave him much to be proud of. His family described a kindhearted man whose love and presence held a special place in their lives.
He is survived by his son, Bart Thompson of Milford; daughters, Julie (Tom) Tindall of Emmetsburg and Amy (Jeff) Brezinka of Holmen, Wisconsin; and sister, Audrey Neutzling of South Carolina.
His surviving grandchildren are Joe (Jen) Tindall, Missy (Gabe Foster) Tindall and Emma Brezinka. He also leaves three great-grandchildren, Tyler Tindall, Colin Tindall and Ethan Ludowese.
Lester was preceded in death by his wife, Marian Thompson; his parents; brothers, Harold Thompson and Howard Thompson; and sister, Louise Garret.
His family extended special thanks to the caregivers at Parc Hall who cared for him during the last 10 years of his life.
Memories and condolences may be shared through Lester Thompson’s obituary at Henry-Olson Funeral Home.
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