Kendal J. Thompson

Kendal J. Thompson, age 67, passed away on Sunday, June 5, 2022, at Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown, SD.  Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 9, 2022, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in De Smet, SD. Father Richard Baumberger will be the Celebrant.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in De Smet, SD.

Burial will be at Pleasant Lutheran Cemetery in Vienna, SD, following lunch.  Honorary pallbearers will be John Cone, Allan Otto, Derik Knock, and Raymond Kerr.  Active pallbearers will be Randy Walker, Randy Jones, John Thoreson, Kevin Adolf, Jeremy Wilkening, Mike Wilkening, Jason Roseland, and Dale Ames.

Kendal James Thompson was born on September 10, 1954, to Orville and LeAlma (Balogh) Thompson in Watertown, SD. He graduated from Willow Lake High School in 1972 before receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education at South Dakota State University. After his college graduation, he returned to Willow Lake High School as the Vocational Agriculture teacher while also continuing to farm with his father. For the past seventeen years, he worked at DPI Global, the last five years as CEO.

On June 6, 1981, Kendal and Janice (Kerr) were married in De Smet, SD. From this marriage came three children: Jessica, Daniel, and Jared. Throughout his life Kendal remained active within the church, FFA, 4-H, and the boy scouts. He also enjoyed coaching local sports teams and was a proud member of the Willow Lake Alumni Association. He proudly supported veterans, and high school and college rodeo.

Kendal also held several titles in his lifetime beginning with State FFA president in high school, member of the Farmhouse Fraternity in college, Willow Lake school board member, and president of the East River Ropers Association.

Kendal is survived by his wife, Janice of Everly, IA; daughter, Jessica (Jake) Weikert of Ankeny, IA; sons, Daniel (Taylor) Thompson of Willow Lake, SD, and Jared (Kate) Thompson of Alva, OK; granddaughters, Allison and Katherine Weikert of Ankeny, IA; sisters, Patty (Roger) Wilkening of Sioux Falls, SD, and Sharry Knock of De Smet; sisters-in-law, Carolyn Ames and Kathy (Jason) Roseland; and  brother-in-law, Raymond (Heidi) Kerr.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Orville and LeAlma; parents-in-law, Autumn and Dale Kerr, and Herb Thomas; brothers-in-law, Larry Ames and Roger Knock; aunts and uncles: Steve “Bud” Balogh, Virgil Grimn, Steve Buck, and Mary and Glenn Green.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to South Dakota FFA Foundation, 39393 133rd St. Bath, SD  57427.

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