Larry Paul Thompson, 85, a longtime resident of Caledonia, Minn., died on May 2, 2026, at his home in St. Paul after a brief illness, surrounded by his family.
Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and teacher, he was born in Saratoga, Minn., on October 4, 1940, the youngest child of Lawrence and Beatrice (Sweet) Thompson. He was predeceased by his parents and four siblings: Earl, Keith, Alan and Mary. Raised on the family farm in Saratoga, he attended country schools there before graduating from St. Charles High School in 1958. He then enrolled at the University of Minnesota, returning home to help his mother during his sophomore year, after his father’s death. He completed his bachelor’s degree at Winona State Teachers College in 1963. This led to a position as a math teacher at Caledonia High School, where “Mr. T.” inspired and supported generations of Caledonia students during a career that spanned more than 40 years. Shortly after his arrival in Caledonia, he fell in love with a lively home economics teacher, Ann Friendshuh. They married in 1965, and raised three children: Jenny, Emily and Nick, all graduates of Caledonia High School and their father’s math classes. He was the assistant coach of the CHS wrestling team for more than 20 years, and was inducted into the Region 1 Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2015. Larry’s teacher colleagues were treasured friends who encouraged each other, laughed together, and enjoyed countless conversations, family gatherings, and trips together. Larry and Ann loved to travel in their later years, especially to Ohio, Florida and Alaska.
A longtime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Caledonia, Larry is survived by his wife and children, their spouses (Bob, Trent and Jen), and six grandchildren: Anna, Sam, Abe, Clara, Finn and Eli. He also leaves many nieces and nephews, cousins, old friends in Caledonia, and new friends at Marvella Senior Living in St. Paul, who cherish his kindness, his storytelling, his warm sense of humor, his ever-inquisitive mind, and his humble brilliance.
His family is creating a “collage of voices” for his memorial service; please send a remembrance or your favorite Larry story to jthompson1448@gmail.com.
Celebration of Life in St. Paul Friday, May 15, 3:30-5:30 p.m. (short service at 4:30) Marvella Senior Living, 825 Mount Curve Blvd, St. Paul. Celebration of Life and funeral Mass in Caledonia Friday, June 12, 11 a.m., St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 513 S. Pine St. Visitation: 9-10:45 a.m., St. Mary’s Holy Family Hall. Burial at Calvary Cemetery and luncheon at Holy Family Hall to follow.
McCormick Funeral Home, Caledonia is assisting the family.
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