Olaf was born March 7, 1896, the fifth child and second son born to Peder and Maria (Frederikson) Thompson. He was born at their farm home in section seven of Vineland Township and was the first of the children born at that farm. Olaf as baptized at the Sand Hill Lutheran Church and was confirmed there in 1910. Olaf was the first member of the family to be involved n the military service. He saw combat duty in Europe during World War I and held the rank of Private.
After the death of Olaf's father in 1914, Olaf and his brother, John, took over the operation of the farm. They rented it from C. M. Davidson who had purchased the farm from their father prior to his death. They farmed together for a number of years after 1914 with the exception of the time Olaf spent in the U.S. Army during the war. During that time, Olaf's sister, Bertha and her husband, Ole Hanstad, worked on the farm. In 1918, they had all the grain seeded by the first part of March.
Olaf later purchased some farm land in Roome Township, just north of Eldred, Minnesota and lived there the rest of his life. The house on the farm was small and Olaf's brother, Elvin, put an addition on the house so as to provide a bedroom for their mother, Maria, who was then living with Olaf and Magda. Magda was Olaf's sister and kept home for him except for the period of 1941 to 1943 when she was married to Amund Moen. Maria lived with Olaf and Magda until her death in 1950. Some years later, Olaf built a new modern home on the farm.
Olaf was very concerned that Magda be well cared for after his death. He stipulated that all his property go to his sister, Esther, and her husband in exchange for assuring that Magda was well cared for after his death. He must have had some real insight as he died four years prior to her death in 1979.
Olaf died April 6, 1975 in a Crookston hospital at the age of 79. Funeral services were held April 10th and he was buried at the Sand Hill cemetery. Olaf never married. (The Thompson Family by Harlow Thompson, 1983)