Sylvester (Sal) L. Thompson, 96, of Austin

Sylvester (Sal) L. Thompson, 96, of Austin, died Wednesday, July 29, 2015, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home.
Sylvester was born on Nov. 14, 1918, in Freeborn County to Andrew and Judith (Aldahl) Thompson. He attended country school and after the ninth grade, he began helping his mother care for his three siblings. Sal served in the U.S. Army during WWII. He was married to Bernice E. Braaten on July 21, 1942, in the chapel at St. Olaf Lutheran Church.
The Thompsons made their home at Corning and worked at the Geo. A. Hormel Co. until retiring. For 33 years they wintered in Arizona. Sal would sit quietly and listen to others talk, and then his dry sense of humor would come out and have the room in laughter.
He was lifelong member of Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church and had served on the church council.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Agnes Anderson; and brother Charles Thompson.
Sal is survived by his wife Bernice Thompson, Austin; son and daughter-in-law Wayne and Peggy Thompson, Cass Lake, Minnesota; grandchildren Dave Thompson, Lansing, Thomas Burback, Eau Claire, Wisconsin and Lisa Burback, Austin; great-grandchildren Emily and Eric Thompson, Dillon Erickson, Roxanne Burback, Katilyn Wirth and Kami Burback; sister and brother-in-law Selma and Harvey Lysne, Austin; sister-in-law Irene Thompson, Austin; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015, at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church with Pastor Lindsay Stolen officiating. Interment was at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Cemetery with Austin Post #91 American Legion in charge of military rites.