Denton Thompson, 73, of Mt. Vernon, died Sept. 16, 2004 at the Avera Queen of Peace Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday at the Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Letcher. Visitation will be at the Will Funeral Chapel, Sunday from 6-8 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Burial will be in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery with military rites. Denton was born February 10, 1931 in Belford Township, Aurora County, SD, to Peter and Darleen (Hunter) Thompson. He attended the Thompson School in Aurora County through the eighth grade and graduated from Letcher High School in 1949. He served in the US Air Force from 1953-1957. He married Janet Larson, October 4, 1959, at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Letcher. They farmed in the Aurora and Sanborn County areas. He was an active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, a member of the Letcher American Legion for 49 years, served as a Sanborn County Commissioner for the past 20 years and was presently serving in that position. He served on the Sanborn County Pork Producers, and had served on the Executive Board of the South Dakota Pork Producers. He served on the Elliott Township Board from 1970 to the present time. He had been a 4-H leader for twenty-five years. He was the owner of Shakes-N-Stuff in Mitchell and the Country Stop at the Huron State Fair. Denton loved to hunt and enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren. He is survived by his children: Carolyn Haag and husband, Michael, of Fulton; Peter Thompson and wife, June, of Mt. Vernon; Connie Hattervig and husband, David, of Carthage; and Cindy Thompson of Mitchell; nine grandchildren; a sister, Eileen Tobin and husband, Clinton, of Wessington Springs; brothers: Norman Thompson and wife, Bette, of Plankinton; Alvin Thompson and wife, Marjene, of Letcher; and a special family friend Janet Scott. He was preceded in death by his wife, in 2003; his parents and an infant granddaughter, Laci Hattervig.