Lew B. Thompson, 89, of Sioux Falls formerly of Baltic died Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at the Golden Living Covington Heights Center in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 AM Friday, April 6, 2012 at Baltic Lutheran Church. Burial will be in the St. Olaf Cemetery, Baltic. Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7:30 PM on Thursday at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Baltic.

Lew was born March 25, 1923 to parents William and Mabel (Lyng) Thompson. He attended country school near Renner and graduated from Baltic High School in 1942. He attended Augustana College for one year before attending Barber College in Sioux City. He served in the US Army during World War II and was discharged in 1944. Lew married Bertie Amert November 28, 1946 in Madison. They lived in Baltic from 1956 until moving into Sioux Falls in 1971. Lew worked as a barber for forty years, retiring in 1988. Bertie died December 8, 2009.

He was a member of the American Legion, the Elks, and the Moose Lodge. He was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls and a former member of Baltic Lutheran Church.

Lew rode a pony to country school as a child and had horses most of his life. He enjoyed playing cards, going dancing, and collecting guns.

Grateful for having shared his life are his children; Diane (James) Hutchins, Sioux Falls; Bill Thompson, Mitchell; Jim (Vonda) Thompson, Wichita, Kansas; grandchildren, Free (Steve) Smith, Bill Thompson III, Michael and Paul Hutchins, step grandchildren, Robin (Carol) Stolz, Michelle (Jeff) Watters; and ten great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and brother, Gerald “Bunt” Thompson.