Merle Wilbur Thompson, age 86, passed away peacefully at the Perham Living care facility on November 27, 2023. He suffered an incapacitating stroke in December of 2016 and was courageous during his illness. Despite his limited physical abilities, he remained a caring husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and all who had the privilege of knowing him.
There is a trio of notable athletes that stand out this year:
Swimmer Micheal Andrew lived in Aberdeen from 1997 to 2011 and began swimming lessons in the Hub City at age seven.
Pole vaulter Chris Nilson is a recent graduate of the University of South Dakota.
Taekwondo athlete Paige McPherson is competing in her second Olympics. She lives in Sturgis.
And while those South Dakota transplants look to bring home their own hardware from Tokyo, athletes who were born in the Mount State have a long history of success at the Summer Olympic Games, dating back more than 100 years, according to BeenVerified.com.
How Many Olympic Medals Have South Dakota-Born Athletes Won? kikn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kikn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.