Merten Lawrence “Mertz” Thompson, the son of Russell and Elsie (Boettcher) Thompson was born on January 22^nd, 1943 in Bottineau, North Dakota.  He died at the age of 71 years on March 6^th, 2014 at the Trinity Medical Center in Minot, North Dakota.

Mertz was raised in the home of his parents in rural Willow City, North Dakota where he attended Semler Country School and graduated from Willow City High School.  Following graduation in 1960, he enlisted into the U.S. Army.  Throughout his 21 career years of service, Mertz served in several different units with multiple deployments to Germany, Alaska, Vietnam and Panama.  On October 1, 1964, he was united in marriage to Connie Reamer at the First Presbyterian Church in Willow City.  The couple made their homes in the Countries and States wherever he was stationed.  Following his retirement and honorable discharge from the Army, he attended and graduated from the Police Academy in Bismarck, North Dakota.  After the Academy, he took employment with the City of Stanley as a police officer for the next 15 years.  In 1994, Mertz and Connie moved to Rugby, North Dakota.  For several growing seasons, Mertz worked for the Towner Nursery.  A loyal and loving husband and father, he enjoyed fishing and hunting with family members, his passion for cooking and being “king” of the venison sausage making process.  Dear to his heart, was watching his granddaughters grow up and spoiling the great grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Connie; daughter, Michelle Lowman of Rugby and son, Jeff of Belleville, Wisconsin; two granddaughters, Jeccica Fjellanger and ShaNya Lowman; great grandsons, Wyatt and Westen Fjellanger; one sister, Myrna (Otto) Svejkousky of Gallatin Gateway, Montana; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.  He was preceded in death by three brothers, Harvey, Thomas and Myron Thompson; his twin sister, Merely Kippen; and his parents.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 12^th at the Emmanuel United Church in Rugby with burial in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan.  Pastor Don Andrews, officiating.

Friends may call for one hour prior to the time of services at the church on Wednesday

Military Honors Accorded by the Clarence Larson American Legion Post # 23 Honor & Color Guard of Rugby and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Detail