Robert Ronald Thomsen (1914 - 2017)

Born 11 Jan 1914 in Wahpeton, Richland County, North Dakota, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Ruth Elizabeth (Finley) Thomsen — married 12 Jun 1940 (to 2 Oct 2005) in Renville, Renville, Minnesota, United States

Descendants

Died 20 Aug 2017 at age 103 in Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Alice Thomsen [send private message]

Biography

Robert Thomsen was a North Dakotan.

Robert Thomsen was a Washingtonian.

Robert Thomsen was a centenarian, living to age 103.

Lietenant JG Robert Thomsen served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started:
Unit(s): Naval Navigator Instructor School, Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida, USA; Ford Island Naval Air Station, Pearl Harbor, Oahu, USA
Service ended:

Robert Thomsen was born on January 11, 1914, in Wahpeton, Richland County, North Dakota, USA.^[1] Robert was the son of Thomas Jensen Thomsen, Captain and Emma Josephine Losinger.

1920 Robert and his parents were residing in Wahpeton, Richland County, North Dakota, USA in 1920. Robert was 16 yrs. old and attending school. Robert's father, Thomas Jensen Thomsen was working as a Clerk at the Wahpetan Post Office.^[2]

1925 Robert is residing with his parents, and his Grandfather, John Henry Losinger (age 69) in Wahpeton, Richland County, North Dakota, USA.^[3]

Robert married Ruth Elizabeth Finley on 12 Jun 1940 in Renville, Renville County, Minnesota, USA^[4]

Robert and Ruth's son, Thomas Finley Thomsen was born on 31 Aug 1943 in Mankato, Blue Springs Minnesota.^[5]

Military Robert Thomsen was a Naval, Lieutenant JG and stationed in Florida at that time. His job was that of an air navigation instructor at the U.S. Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida, United States. He also served as a trans-ocean navigator in areas where he was assigned to duty, including Pearl Harbor after 7 Dec 1941. He shared the experience "when on one flight, they became disoriented as to where they were. He said it was one of the scariest times he had while in the service."

Robert was a well-educated man. He was a Professor at Whitman College, Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington, USA until his retirement

Robert passed away at the Oddfellows Home located in Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington, USA, on 20 Aug 1917 with son Thomas and daughter-in-law, Alice Mae Stephens-Thomsen present. ^[6]

History of Robert Ronald Thomsen, Naval LT, Professor, Athletic Coach, Dean of Men and Chairman of Judges-Juvenile Commission

"Robert (Bob) R. Thomsen was born in Wahpeton, Richland County, North Dakota, in 1914. He received his Bachelor of Science in Education with majors in mathematics and physical education from the University of North Dakota in 1934. Between 1943 and 1946, he served as a Lieutenant in the Navy as an air navigator instructor for Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola and NAS Pacific. From the University of Wyoming, he earned his Masters of Arts in 1950 and Ph.D. in Education in 1952. Bob Thomsen served as an assistant athletic coach, an athletic coach, and a high school principal for various high schools in Minnesota. He was a football and track coach at the Springfield High School Institute and a graduate assistant in the physical education department, and director of intramurals and supervisor for student cumulative records at the University of Wyoming. He was also active in the Boys Scouts and Little League.

In September 1952, Thomsen came to Whitman College. For 27 years he held both athletic and administrative posts. He was the first assistant football coach (succeeding Joe Ponsalle) and from 1955, he was the head football coach (succeeding Joe Beidler). From 1963, he was a golf coach, and from 1969, cross country coach and chairman of the Department of Physical Education. From 1954 until 1969, he was Dean of Men. He retired from Whitman College in 1979, but he has stayed actively involved with humanitarian organizations and was a member of various city councils.

Some of the organizational memberships Thomsen had held during the years were: Alpha Tau Omega, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Epsilon Kappa, Phi Delta Kappa, National College Physical Education Association for Men, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Coaches, American Association for Health, Physical Education and Athletics, American Deans, Walla Walla Bowling Association, Masonic Lodge, El Katif Temple, Blue Mountain Shrine Club (President, 1969), United Fund Campaigner, Rotary International, Walla Walla, and Big Blue Booster Clubs, and Chairman of Judges - Juvenile Commission. He was also the recipient of the 18th annual Town-Gown Award in 1978.^[7]

Research Notes

• Sources provided to me, by his son, Thomas Finley Thomsen: from the Universities, Schools, and Organizations he was associated with. There is a Scholarship in Honor to him at the Whitman College, Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. May 22, 2021.Stephens-3929 17:19, 19 November 2023 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ "Citation Information: Detail: North Dakota State University Archives; Fargo, North Dakota; Edit Source: Source Information: Title North Dakota, Territorial, and State Censuses, 1885, (1915), 1925"
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCDQ-499 : 3 February 2021), Robert R Thomsen in the entry for Thomas J Thomsen, 1920.
3. ↑ "North Dakota Census, 1925", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:QK9C-HB7K : Sun Mar 12 03:05:33 UTC 2023), Entry for Thomas J Thomsen and Robert R Thomsen, 1925.
4. ↑ " Web: Minnesota, U.S., Marriages from the Minnesota Official Marriage System, 1850-2019 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2019.; Original data: Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS). Minnesota, USA: Minnesota Association of County Officers (MACO). https://moms.mn.gov/."
5. ↑ Birth:"Minnesota Birth Index, 1935-2002"
   citing Blue Earth, Minnesota, United States, Minnesota Department of Health, Minneapolis
   FamilySearch Record: VCFJ-MJR (accessed 19 November 2023)
   Thomas Finley Thomsen born on 31 Aug 1943, child of Robert R. Thomsen & Ruth Elizabeth Finley Thomsen, in Blue Earth, Minnesota, United States.
6. ↑ "Publication Place: Walla Walla, WA, USA; URL: http://www.union-bulletin.com/obituaries/robert-doc-bob-thomsen/article_f97b4ea2-add5-11e7-ae5f-971ea276ec2c.html"
7. ↑ "http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv73886"