Funeral services for Ross Roger Thompson, 39, of Apple Valley, formerly of Albert Lea, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Zion Lutheran Church. The Rev. Joel Vano will officiate. Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Ross Roger Thompson died suddenly of a heart attack on Sunday, July 19, 2009, at the Midway Motocross racetrack in Kellogg where he raced earlier that day.
Ross Roger Thompson was born on Aug. 20, 1969, in Edina, the son of Gene and Andrea (Kabe) Thompson. He was baptized at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Burnsville and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. Ross was a 1988 graduate of Albert Lea High School and attended the U of M Waseca, then went into the electrical program at Dunwoody Technical Institute. On July 30, 1994, Ross was united in marriage to Marcy Carlsen at the Couples Resort in Jamaica. After five years of marriage, they divorced. Ross has been a Mall of America employee since it opened. He first worked in the Maintenance Department and currently as an electrician. He was a member of the Straight Arrow Motocross Club of Minneapolis, was an ARMCA district 23 points keeper for the 250cc class, and a member of the American Motocross Association (AMA). Ross had a zest for life like no other. He took each day as a new adventure and lived life to the fullest. He was well known in our family for several antics and practical jokes. Ross’ passions were motocross, hunting, collecting toy tractors and motocross collectibles, but above all else he enjoyed spending time with and spoiling his nieces and nephews.
Survivors include his parents: Gene and Andrea of Freeborn; brother, Mike (Karla) Thompson of Albert Lea and their children, Megan and Brooke; sister, Anissa (Kirk) Johnson of Clarks Grove and their children, Dylan and Mason; grandmothers: Elvera Kabe of Albert Lea and Marian Thompson of Clarks Grove; aunts and uncles: Duane Thompson, Roger Thompson, Charlotte (Ben) Barrentine, Nathan Thompson, Leslie (Gretchen) Thompson, Linda (Kevin) Kelly, Marvin Thompson, Everett (Karina) Thompson, Galen (Bonnie) Kabe, Joel (Susan) Kabe and Kristen (Richard) Geiger; many cousins and special friends: Mitch and Vicki Evenson and their children, Mike and Amanda; and his many friends at the Mall of America.
Ross was preceded in death by his grandfathers: Robert S. Thompson and Harold V. Kabe.
Ross will always be remembered for his kind nature and caring ways. He will be forever missed by his family, friends, and all that knew and loved him. Blessed be his memory always.