Frederick Seth Thompson, 78

Frederick Seth Thompson, 78, died on March 6, 2011, at Brendan House in Kalispell.

He was born Dec. 15, 1932, in Richfield, Minn., to Richard and Virginia (Mills) Thompson. He came to Libby in 1951 with several Rice Lake, Wis., boys and went to work at J. Neils Lumber Company pole yard.

 He joined the Army Signal Corps during the Korean War and hitchhiked home in February to marry the light of his life, Marvel Leckrone, in 1954. They moved to White Sands Proving Ground, Las Cruces, N.M., until his discharge in 1955.

They returned to his favorite little town of Libby and he continued work at J. Neils until he went to work selling cars for Higdem Ford. He loved the “art of the deal” and was good at it. He started selling State Farm Insurance until his retirement in 2006.

Fred and Marvel traveled extensively with Rotary International in Europe, Asia and Hawaii and the whole state of Montana.

He enjoyed hunting and skiing. He was beneficial in starting the Libby Volunteer Ambulance, and their house went on the block if they needed a new ambulance. That scared Marvel many times.

He was an exceptional friend, husband and father and always forgave those that were disenchanted with him. He always just said, “consider the source” and turned the other cheek.

After many years of dealing with diabetes and shingles, heart attacks and strokes, he went downhill fast and died in Kalispell with pneumonia.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Dick and David. They later adopted Marvel’s cousin, Judy Monk Eby, who died in 2004.

Survivors include his wife, Marvel Thompson, of Libby; two children, Scott Thompson of Libby, and Julie Thompson Woodley of Brooklyn, N.Y.; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren; and two surviving sisters, Virginia Haynes and Susan Emmons.

Visitation will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 10, with rosary at 7 p.m., at Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby. Mass of the Resurrection will be at 11 a.m. Friday, March 11, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libby.