Rev. Henry Thompson
Rev. Henry Thompson was born April 8, 1891 in Baltic, South Dakota to Thorsten & Ann (Updahl) Thompson. He attended high school at Augustana Academy in Sioux Falls. South Dakota and college at St. Olaf in Northfield, Minnesota, graduating in 1917. Following graduation from St. Olaf, he became a teacher in the Baltic schools, which he did until sometime in 1918 when he joined the U. S. Army. Upon returning from service in 1919, he entered seminar, attending Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota from 1919 to 1922. Upon graduation from seminary, he became pastor at Plaza, North Dakota where he served until his arrival here in July of 1928. It was definitely a challenge for Pastor Thompson as it had been at least since December of 1927 when Pastor Krostu had served full-time. Six months later (January 8, 1929), he helped to lay to rest his predecessor who had been here 42 years.
Pastor Thompson served West Koshkonong 35 years, coupled with a 30 year ministry at East Koshkonong (from July, 1928 through May 4, 1958). Pastor Thompson resigned as pastor of both churches in 1958, but he agreed to resume serving at West from that time until May 1963 when he retired from the public ministry. The last date of service he presided over is listed in our books as July 13, 1963.
The Thompson’s had 4 children, 3 of whom are deceased:
Pastor Thompson celebrated many milestones while serving at West Koshkonong;
Beyond that we know that Pastor Thompson was the type of preacher who always told the people that they needed to repent to receive God’s forgiveness. We also know that he remained with the church through the ups and downs of both his life, and the life of the church. The fact that when he died in 1968 his funeral was at a church of another denomination does not diminish the commitment of his service to our church.
He wrote in his first resignation in May, 1958: “When I look back upon the vanished years, it seems that I was placed or chosen to go with you through a period of transition from the Norwegian to the English language. I choose to believe that we now have entered into a new era for the church and I hope that it will be an era of deeper spiritual experiences, and thus also of greater spiritual influence here in the congregation. Leaving, Pastor Thompson closed with this one which serves as a self-evaluation of his service: “ My final reason for taking this step now, is that the church work in both congregations has never been better than at present, attendance has been good all these 30 years, financially we are more than solvent, the ladies aid has passed through another successful year, one more in a long succession of years as many or more persons joined the congregation in 1957 than any like period….Nothing can be better than to leave when the leaving is good.”
Pastor Thompson served West Koshkonong 35 years, coupled with a 30 year ministry at East Koshkonong (from July, 1928 through May 4, 1958). Pastor Thompson resigned as pastor of both churches in 1958, but he agreed to resume serving at West from that time until May 1963 when he retired from the public ministry. The last date of service he presided over is listed in our books as July 13, 1963.
The Thompson’s had 4 children, 3 of whom are deceased:
- Marion (Mrs. Roger) Juel (January 21, 1922-August 16, 2015)
- Henry "Hank" Thompson Jr.-deceased
- Naomi C. Lauridsen (April 15, 1927-January 15, 2016)
- Morris (Mary) Thompson-Cambridge WI
Pastor Thompson celebrated many milestones while serving at West Koshkonong;
- The 90th and 100th anniversary of the church
- The Thompson’s 25th wedding anniversary
- Pastor Thompson’s 50th birthday
- The 25th anniversary of his Ministry
Beyond that we know that Pastor Thompson was the type of preacher who always told the people that they needed to repent to receive God’s forgiveness. We also know that he remained with the church through the ups and downs of both his life, and the life of the church. The fact that when he died in 1968 his funeral was at a church of another denomination does not diminish the commitment of his service to our church.
He wrote in his first resignation in May, 1958: “When I look back upon the vanished years, it seems that I was placed or chosen to go with you through a period of transition from the Norwegian to the English language. I choose to believe that we now have entered into a new era for the church and I hope that it will be an era of deeper spiritual experiences, and thus also of greater spiritual influence here in the congregation. Leaving, Pastor Thompson closed with this one which serves as a self-evaluation of his service: “ My final reason for taking this step now, is that the church work in both congregations has never been better than at present, attendance has been good all these 30 years, financially we are more than solvent, the ladies aid has passed through another successful year, one more in a long succession of years as many or more persons joined the congregation in 1957 than any like period….Nothing can be better than to leave when the leaving is good.”