Larry A Thompson

Larry A “Buzzy” Thompson, 82, passed away November 22, 2022. 

A funeral service will be at 11:00 AM, Thursday, December 1, 2022, at Parkway Funeral service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, with visitation starting one hour prior. Burial will take place at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Larry was born on January 16, 1940, to Lloyd and Lillian (Setter) Thompson in Denhoff, ND. Larry was the 4^th of five children blessed to Lloyd and Lillian. He graduated from Denhoff High School in 1957, then Larry joined the Army where he served as an SP4 in Fort Knox, KY. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1959. Later he took some evening courses to become a draftsman at Bismarck State College.

In 1958, Larry married Arlene Gienger, his high school sweetheart. Upon discharge from the Army, they settled in Bismarck, ND where Larry went to work managing Bismarck Lumber. In 1962 they relocated to Underwood, ND where Larry managed Underwood Lumber Co. With this experience, he was offered to manage and become a partner in Klein Lumber in downtown Bismarck until it closed.  Together the couple had four boys between 1958 and 1962, keeping them very busy. The boys will joke that the energy of his four boys was more stressful than work, as he would often head back to the office in the evening after dinner for some peace and quiet. Larry and Arlene were married for 20 years before deciding to go their separate ways.

Larry served his community on various boards and committees including the El Zagel Shriners, Elks Lodge 1199, Amvets, Eagles and the City Planning and Zoning Committee. Professionally, he served on the ND Retail Lumber Association Board of Directors and Northwestern Lumberman’s Association Board of Directors. He was named the ND Lumber Dealer of the Year in 1988.

In 1988 he married Rose (Geier) Bailey, with whom he spent the rest of his happily married life until she passed away in May of 2021. Larry and Rose enjoyed the home at the end of Hackberry St that they built together for many years. They enjoyed gardening together, entertaining friends and family, and playing pinochle. Children and grandchildren would often visit on Sundays for a taste of the latest dessert, a “perfect one”, and some laughter. In his retirement, Larry enjoyed stopping by building sites to do his own “inspection” and see how projects were coming along. He liked to join his friends on Saturday mornings for a good round of pinochle, wagering a hefty 25 cents per hand.

Larry is survived by his sons, Tracy (Sue), Larry (Jill), and Tab (Leigh Ann); eleven grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren; his sister, Janet Schell; his brother, William (Karen); as well as nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Rose; his parents, Lloyd and Lillian; his sisters, Marlys (Chuck) Hanson and Jean (Wilbert) Schmitke; and his son, Todd.