Ernest Ordell Thompson, 90, of Emmons, died peacefully at the Lake Mills Care Center on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, surrounded by his children. He turned 90 years old just three days prior to his death.

A celebration of life service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Silver Lake Lutheran Church in rural Northwood with the Revs. Randy Baldwin and Bill Peters officiating.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 E. Main St. in Lake Mills and again one hour prior to the service at the church.

Ernest will be cremated after the service and inurnment will take place at Silver Lake Cemetery at a later date.

Ernest Ordell Thompson was born Feb. 22, 1923, on the east side of State Line Lake in rural Freeborn County, the first born child of Selmer and Mabel (Larson) Thompson. He was baptized and confirmed at Silver Lake Lutheran Church. He attended rural country school until the death of his father in 1940 when he stayed home to help his mother on the farm. He married Dorothy Jean DeVries on June 7, 1953, at Salem Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. They were married 42 years until her death in August 1995. He was employed for many years at the Albert Lea Co-op Creamery and later by Mid-America Dairyman as a milk truck driver. He was also a mail carrier for a time in Mankato.

He loved going up north fishing with his children and grandchildren and in 2012 celebrated the 51st annual Thompson family fishing trip. He spent many years going to the farm to help his brother, Si, farm. He attended the Britt Draft Horse show and could pick the winner most every time. Ernie loved his flowers, creating his “flower tree” every year, and he loved decorating for Christmas. His outdoor lights won several local awards and a spot on television. At one time he had more than 15,000 lights displayed. He was a master at lefsa making, enjoyed eating lutefisk every Christmas and watching his birds in the backyard while having coffee with his neighbors, Tom and Kathy.

Ernie is survived by his four children, Debra (William) Georgia of Lake Mills, Barbara Thompson of Lake Mills, Donald Thompson of rural Northwood and Victoria Zobel of Lake Mills; eight grandchildren, Brandon (Blair) Zobel of Omaha, April Zobel of Kansas City, Mo., Nolan Zobel of Ankeny, Iowa, Holly (Toby) Reynolds of Tishomingo, Okla., Kim (Andre) Vargas of Tacoma, Wash., Eric (Julie) Georgia of Tacoma, Eli Georgia (Anna) of Northwood and Emily Georgia of Miami, Fla.; 13 great-grandchildren, Tricia Melton, Michael Baldwin, William Baldwin, Grace Reynolds, Elisabeth Reynolds, Max Reynolds, Andrew Vargas, Zachary Vargas, Mariah Vargas, Celina Georgia, Kendra Georgia, Annabel Georgia and Erica Georgia. He is survived by his sister Helen (Robert) Edwin, three sisters-in-law, Beulah Thompson, Ardyce DeVries, Phyllis DeVries and his friend Rose Henderson. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Ernie was preceded in death by his parents Selmer and Mabel Thompson, his wife, Dorothy, his brother, Lauritz Thompson and his wife, Betty, his sister, Mavis Nordaas and her husband, Haakon, his brother Siram, his brother-in-law, Darold DeVries, sister-in-law, Ruth Dagner and his son-in-law, Douglas Zobel.

He will be greatly missed.

To leave online condolences for the family visit www.mittelstadtfuneralhome.com or call 641-592-0221.