Henry purchased his first land in 1914, Section 8 of Vineland Township, Polk County, Minnesota. He married Olga Skyberg on December 8, 1923 at the home of her parents. They met while she was living with the Peder Thompson family and teaching at the small country school. Henry and Olga had two children, Gladys and Harlow.

Henry and Olga were well known and successful farmers—self-sufficient in many ways, raising Holstein dairy cattle, hogs, chickens and turkeys. A number of crops were raised—corn, oats, millet, flax, wheat, barley and potatoes. Olga also raised a large vegetable and fruit garden.

The family attended Sand Hill Lutheran Church regularly. This was often a difficult drive over mud roads in the summer and heavy snow in the winter as the church was some five miles from the farm home. While Henry did hold office in the church, it was Olga who was the driving force. She taught Sunday School, was Sunday School Superintendent and belonged to the Ladies Aid. She was also the church organist for 10 years and directed the church choir.

The Thompsons enjoyed an active social life in addition to the church. They belonged to the Farm Bureau, Farmers Union and the Eldred Community Club. They also went to card and game parties during the winter.

Politically, Henry was a member of the Farmer-Labor party in Minnesota. Reportedly, the first person he voted for as U.S. President was Eugene V. Debs, a pioneer American labor leader and a socialist candidate for president. Later, Henry was a strong believer in Franklin Roosevelt.

After Olga died of cancer in 1941, Gladys cooked and did the housework until she went to College in 1943. Henry and Harlow "batched" until Harlow went to college. Henry died September 2, 1949, shortly after his 70th birthday. Death was due to hypertension and uremia. He was buried at the Sand Hill Cemetery next to Olga.

The two men with orange shirts are Henry Harlow Thompson on the right with his son Scott Harlow Thompson on the left.