Henning P. Thomsen, age 92, of Brookings, died Monday, February 7, 2011, at the United Retirement Center in Brookings. Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Friday, February 11, at the United Church Of Christ in Lake Preston, South Dakota, with interment in Lake Preston Cemetery. Visitations will be from 5-8 P.M. Thursday at the United Church of Christ in Lake Preston.
Henning Peter Thomsen was born July 3, 1918 in rural Kingsbury County, South Dakota, to Peter and Marie (Hasselhop) Thomsen. He was one of five children who grew up on a farm near Lake Preston. He attended school through the eighth grade at Strande School in rural Lake Preston.
Henning worked on the family farm until he joined the army in 1942. He served in World War II from March 7, 1942 until September 19, 1945, when he was honorably discharged. His years of service were in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe as part of General George S. Pattons Fifth Armored Division. He was awarded a European African Middle Eastern Theater Service Medal, two overseas service bars, and a good conduct medal.
On March 25, 1951 Henning married LaVonne Erie in Lake Preston, South Dakota. Farming was his first love and occupation for over 50 years, but he worked at many other jobs to support his family. He served on the United Church of Christ board and was a member of the American Legion in Lake Preston.
Henning semi-retired in Brookings, where he worked for Moriarty Rentals as a care-taker of several apartment buildings. After LaVonne passed away on June 7, 2001, he moved to Park Place Assisted Living in 2002. He resided there until August of 2006, when he moved to United Retirement Center in Brookings.
Henning always took pride in whatever job he was doing and was very particular about doing the job right. This included his gardening, which was his lifelong passion. He also took pride in his marriage, children and grandchildrenhis family, their lives and activities were always a priority. Patriotism and honoring our country and flag were very important to him. Henning was best known by everyone for his sense of humor and his jokes.
Survivors include his four children: Rhonda (Kip) James of Arlington, South Dakota, Kent (Rita) Thomsen of Huron, South Dakota, Klark Thomsen of Lake Preston, South Dakota, and Renita Dose of Tea, South Dakota; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and one on the way; two sisters Violet Matson (Leon) of San Diego, California, and Gloria Humphrey of Reseda, California; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife LaVonne, a sister Rose, and a brother Jasper.