Richard E. "Dick" Thompson of Rochester died Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at St. Marys Hospital.

Dick was born May 21, 1939 in Greenwood, IN. He was the eighth child born to Virgil and Martha Thompson. Dick was a member of the graduating class of 1957 from Greenwood High School. Following high school, he worked for Indiana Bell Telephone until joining the U.S. Navy in October of 1958. During his eight years in the Navy, he spent two and a half years stations on the staff of U.S. Naval Activities at Port Lyautey, Morocco, and four years at the Naval Examining Center at North Chicago, during which time he met his future wife, Elvina Tichy. Dick and Elvina were married December 17, 1966 in Mundelein, IL.

Dick spent 44 years involved in the electric fencing industry and served as Vice President of Waters Instruments, North Central Plastics, and Zereba Systems before retiring in 2010.

Dick was a 47 year member of Homestead United Methodist Church. He often said, "the only thing they have not asked me to do is sing." Dick was a Master of Rochester Masonic Lodge 21 AF & AM, President of the Minnesota Masonic Foundation, Potentate of Osman Shrine, and an emeritus member of the Board or Governors for Twin Cities Shriners Hospital for Children.

Dick is survived by his wife, Elvina; son, Dean (Jennifer) Thompson; daughter, Sarah (David) Holmes; grandson, Andrew Thompson; granddaughters, Rachel Thompson, and Teagan, Claire and Quinn Holmes; brother, Bernard of Taylors, SC. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Howard, LeRoy, Robert, and Calvin; and four sisters, Francis, Rella, Nancy, and Judith, all of Greenwood, IN.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 2nd in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with Pastor Luke Nelson officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 1st with a Masonic services at 7:00 p.m. in the River Park Chapel. There will also be a visitation one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Burial and Military Honors will be in MN State Veterans Cemetery in Preston, MN. on Tuesday March 5, 2019.

Memorials are preferred to Twin Cities Shriners Hospital for Children or Homestead Church in Rochester.