Gayland Thompson

On January 11, 2021,

Gayland Howard Thomp-

son peacefully passed

away in his home at the

age of 94 in Towner, ND

Gayland was born Sep-

tember 15, 1926 in Mako-

ti, ND to Sigrud and Han-

nah (Nelson) Thomspon.

Gayland was raised in

Makoti with two brothers

and one sister. As a young

man he worked with his

two brothers in the dray

line in Makoti. Gayland

was drafted in his senior

year into the Army and he

served two years and was

honorably discharged.

Following his

discharge, he married his

sweetheart, Patricia

Jeanne Rankin on July 24,

1949. To this union three

sons and a daughter were

born. They started their

married life ranching with

his two brothers in Town-

er, ND for seven years.

After that he spent seven

years in the oil filed as a

tool pusher making his

home in Bottineau, ND;

Maxbass, ND, and Red

Lodge, MT. Following

that he became the fore-

man of the Schultz Ranch

in Stanton, ND for 40

years. Upon retirement he

spent the next 20 years

wintering in Donna, TX

where he was active in his

church and learned to

play golf at age of 72.

Summers were spent rid-

ing his horse on trail rides

with his friends and fami-

ly members as well as

spending time with his

grandkids and other fami-

ly. He was an active

member of the American

Legion of Stanton, Our Sa-

viors Lutheran in Stanton,

ND and Zion Lutheran in

Towner, ND.

Gayland is survived by:

his wife, Patricia, of 71

years and three children;

Randy, Lucerne Valley,

CA, Ronald (Bev) Grafton,

ND; and Lorraine (Kelly

Nelson) Minot, ND. Five

grandchildren, Kirsten

(John) LaLonde, Bruce

(Meghann) Thompson,

Brett Thompson, Chris

(Tonia) Thompson, and

Dustin (Allison) Thomp-

son. Eight

great-grandchildren,

Madison LaLonde,

McKenzie LaLonde, Miles

Thompson, Jeran Thomp-

son, Reese Thompson,

Natalie Thompson, Odin

Thompson, and Dax

Thompson. He is also

survived by many

nephews, nieces, and

friends.

He was preceded in

death by: his parents, his

brothers, Glenn (Marion)

Thompson and Arnett

(Margaret) Thompson)

and sister Avis (Donald)

Giffey, and his son Micha-

el. He was also preceded

in death by his mother-

and father-in-law, two

sisters-in-laws, and one

brother-in-law.

Memorials: In lieu of

flowers, memorials are

preferred to Our Saviors

Lutheran, Stanton, ND;

Zion Lutheran Church,

Towner, ND; or charity of

donor’s choice.

Memorial services will

be held at 2:00 p.m. Satur-

day, January 16 at Zion

Lutheran Church in

Towner with full military

honors accorded outside

the church following the

service.

A celebration of life and

burial will take place

summer 2021.

Visitation for those

wanting to share time but

not attend will be 1 hour

prior to the service. Social

distancing, facial cover-

ings and COVID restric-

tions will be observed.

The service will be lives-

treamed for the public to

view and can be accessed

by going to www.funerals

byanderson.com and the

link to our YouTube page

will be on the bottom of

his obituary.

Arrangements with the

Anderson Funeral Home

of Rugby. Online registry:

www.funerals

byanderson.com/