In the early hours of November 28, we said goodbye to an extraordinary husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend.
Bruce A. Thompson passed away on Thursday, November 28, 2024, at home. He was born February 27, 1942, in Rochester to Jarnes and Helen (Nereson) Thompson. He attended Stewartville Public Schools, graduating in 1960.
He met the love of his life skating the oval at Glover’s roller rink. Bruce married Dianna Smith, November 6, 1960, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester. They made their home in Rochester until 1967 when they built a home on the family farm in Stewartville. Bruce and Dianna raised their three children there.
Bruce worked for Northwestern National Bank in data processing. He worked his way up to Senior Vice President of Operations for Norwest Bank. All while working his “day jobs” he farmed the family farm. Bruce was especially proud of achieving Century Farm status. After leaving the bank he sold real estate for a short time. In 1998 Bruce and Dianna moved to Arizona. He finished his career at Mayo Hospital in Phoenix, retiring in 2009. Initially they spent their summers in Stewartville and their winters in Phoenix. They moved back to Minnesota in 2016. In retirement, one of his greatest joys in life was coffee with the guys at the Senior Center.
Bruce is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dianna, his brother, Gary, three children, Del (Jeff) Wibben, Andy (Rhonda) Thompson, and Kjersti (Jim) VanAllen, seven grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, and his fur baby, Baxter.
A Celebration of Life will be held on the family farm at a later date.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association.
Arrangements by Rochester Cremation Services.
