Richard Luther Thomsen

Dick Thomsen, age 81, of Wheaton, Minnesota passed away Friday, January 19, 2024 at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton with Rev. Dan Gifford officiating. Organist will be Theresa Thiel with special music by Tressa Lanter. 

Visitation will be held Friday, February 2nd from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with a 6:00 p.m. Prayer Service and Time of Sharing at St. John Lutheran Church and continue Saturday morning one hour prior to service time at the church. Burial will be at a later date.

Richard “Dick” Luther Thomsen was born November 10, 1942, in Graceville, MN, to Eloise Thomsen and Robert Peyton. He was baptized on December 2, 1942, and confirmed on March 25, 1956, at St. John Lutheran Church, Wheaton. He attended elementary and high school in Wheaton, graduating in 1960.  

After graduation, Dick moved to Minneapolis and graduated from Minneapolis Architecture & Drafting School. He also attended the University of Minnesota, taking courses in business, math and economics. Dick joined the United States Army Reserve in August 1966 and was honorably discharged in 1972.    

Dick married his high school sweetheart, Carol Abraham, on February 22, 1964. They were blessed with three children: Brian, David and Julie, and four wonderful grandchildren: Hayden, Joran, Avarie and Gavin.

While in Minneapolis, Dick worked for Coast to Coast Hardware as a draftsman and buyer. He also was the manager of Store Development for FOK Hardware. 

In 1976 Dick, Carol and their three children moved to Wheaton where they purchased the Coast to Coast store, which they owned until 1984. In 1985 Dick took a position as Regional Sales Director for a Geo-Thermal Energy Company. Later in 1985, he chose a new career path when he joined Equitable Life of Iowa Insurance Company. During this nearly 40-year career, he formed Thomsen Insurance and Investment Services with his son Brian, in which Dick was active until his passing. Throughout the years, Dick served on several boards including: St. John Lutheran Church, the Wheaton Economic Development, and several board positions in the insurance and investment industry. He was an active member of the Wheaton Lions Club and the American Legion.

Throughout his life, Dick loved to cook for his family, for the boys in deer hunting camp, for cabin neighbors and community friends. He loved spending time at the cabin with his family and friends where he was known for his great breakfasts and meals prepared on his deck. Dick enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, sitting on the deck and on the dock at the cabin. He and Carol cherished all the memories they made while sitting in their porch when friends and neighbors stopped by to join them. The porch was a very special place to him. They spent time every day there. Some of his best memories were from the annual deer hunting trips that were started nearly 60 years ago with his lifelong friends and their families. He also enjoyed fishing not only on Lake Traverse but also in Alaska. Dick and Carol traveled to several countries in Europe, Mexico, Hawaii, Canada, and Alaska, on trips for which Dick qualified. Later in his career, Dick and Brian traveled for business to many great locations in the United States. In recent years, with much pride they attended many sporting and school events of their four grandchildren.

Dick served many clients throughout his career and considered them all friends. He was proud of his family, community, church, friends and acquaintances. Faith, family and friends were most important in his life. He will be missed by all the lives he touched.

Dick is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years Carol and their three children: Brian of Wheaton, MN: David of Elk River, MN; Julie (Dale) Otto of Rosemount, MN, and his four grandchildren: Hayden Thomsen, Joran Thomsen, Avarie Otto, and Gavin Otto. Dick is also survived by his mother, Eloise Stephens of Brooklyn Center, MN; brothers: Jerry (Betty) Stephens of Ham Lake, MN; Dannie (Mary) Stephens of New Brighton, MN; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Dick is preceded in death by his father Robert Peyton; his grandparents Henry and Matilda Thomsen; his step-father Kenneth Stephens; and his  in-laws Ernest and Elphild Abraham.