Allan W. Thompson, 98, formerly of the Fairfield and Belfield, ND area died Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at the Evergreen, Dickinson. Allan’s funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Monday, February 4, 2008 at the Belfield Lutheran Church, Belfield with Rev. Roger Dieterle officiating. Interment will follow at the Belfield Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson and will continue at the church one hour prior to services on Monday.
Allan was born August 24, 1909 to Albert (A.T.) and Julia (Ekern) Thompson on the family homestead in Billings County at Fairfield, ND. He completed his elementary education in the Fairfield community, and remained on the family homestead, farming and ranching with his parents.
As a young and eligible bachelor, Allan made the circuit of dances and other community events, eventually catching the eye of a young lady that had come west to teach school. Allan and Myrtle Helene Nielson were married on June 30, 1938 at Sheyenne, ND. They began management of the Thompson ranch and raising their two children while residing at “the camp” in the badlands, moving to the original homestead site in 1947. In 1969, Allan and Myrtle moved into Belfield for a short time and then to a home on the ranch where they resided until making a more permanent move to Belfield in 1983. Myrtle passed away January 16, 1996, and Allan moved into Evergreen in 1998.
While enjoying retirement status, Allan and Myrtle were actively involved with the Billings County Historical Society and the Belfield Senior Citizens. During this time the Billings County Courthouse Museum, “Echoing Trails” history book, and the Belfield Senior Activity Center became realities. They also enjoyed numerous square dances in the area as members of a Belfield square dance club. Allan also found time to play a mean game of pool at the Senior Center, and didn’t miss the annual gathering of the Fifty Years in the Saddle Club.
Allan was a board member of the Fairfield school district for a number of years. He was one of the longest continuous members of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Assoc., charter member of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, member of the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the Fifty Years in the Saddle Club. He was a long time member of the Roosevelt Memorial Masonic Lodge #129, Belfield, life member of El Zagal Shriners of Fargo, the North Dakota York Rite and the Belfield Lutheran Church.
Allan is survived by his children, Kay (Jarl) Opgrande, Longview, WA, and Allan T. (Joyce) Thompson, Fairfield; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and three sisters-in-law. Allan was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtle, his parents, three brothers, one sister. The family is requesting that memorials be made to the Badlands Ministries and the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame.
