Kent Thomson

It is with a heavy heart that the family of Kent Thomson, 77, of Alexandria wishes to announce his passing on Friday, November 1, 2019 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.  Kent was born to  Walter and Florence (Kyhl) Thomson in Devils Lake, ND on December 19, 1941.   He attended Southam and Devils Lake schools through 1959.  Following graduation, he attended NDSSS in Wahpeton, ND, where he earned his industrial drafting and design education and met Kay Keech.  They were married May 2, 1964.   The creation of the mobile home manufacturing plant that he co-founded, Homera, Inc. brought the family to Tracy, MN in 1971.  They raised their family there until Kays’ passing in 1984.  In trying to move on, he spent time in Worthington, MN and Scottsdale AZ, before settling in Alexandria.

Kent built a life in Alexandria along with designing many of the buildings you see each day including Cherry Street Books on Broadway.  He was a regular at the Brass Lantern, where he met Diane, and more recently the Travelers Inn where he made many great friends, some of which became like family.

Kent was a man ahead of his time.  He had ideas years before others, had so much knowledge and always took the time to share it.  He sold ideas for “a steak and bottle of cold duck”.  While making a living was important to Kent, wealth meant something different to him.  He measured wealth by his family, his quality friends, and the people he met along the way.

He was a man on the move and when his body would no longer keep up and allow him to “go get a hamburger” it was frustrating.  However, in true Kent style, he handled it with such grace, even to the end.  He was a gift to our family and we hope he was a gift to you as well.

He leaves behind his fiancé and love of the last 24 years, Diane Ziebell.  Children:  Kris (Joe) Zell, Kyhl (Tiff) Thomson. Beloved Grandchildren:  Jake and Jonathan (JT) Zell, Zack and Zoe Thomson.  Siblings:  Karen (Grant) Eidsness, Kyhl (Marlene) Thomson, Kevin (Pam) Thomson.  Goddaughter: Rhonda Bowser. Former daughter-in-law, Mari Wanzek.  Kay’s family and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Kay, and son Kane Lloyd Thomson.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 10, 2019, 4:00 -7:00 pm at the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria and will continue on Monday, November 11th, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Lutheran  Church in Alexandria Funeral service will 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria, MN.  Burial will be at Kinkead Cemetery.