Gail Mary Thompson

GAIL MARY (SCHUMACHER) THOMPSON

November 3, 1949   --   January 5, 2024 (age 74)

Gail M Thompson, 74, of Detroit Lakes, MN, passed away January 5, 2024, at Frazee Care Center, Frazee, MN.

Gail was born November 3, 1949, in Fargo, ND, to Ralph and Opal (Barnard) Schumacher. She grew up in Fargo, graduating from Fargo Central (North High) in 1967. Gail married Fred Warner and later divorced. Soon after, she moved to Aspen, Colorado for several years before returning to the Detroit Lakes area.

On October 31, 1993, Gail married Cliff Thompson. They enjoyed many years on Little Pelican Lake. She will be fondly remembered for hosting the annual Christmas Eve Thompson gathering.

Gail worked several jobs but most of her adult life as a cook, including at “Little Shoey’s” in Detroit Lakes, which she and Cliff owned, and later for Fair Hills resort on Pelican Lake, where she retired in 2010. Earlier in her life, two favorite jobs were designing and knitting caps at “The Mountain Lid” in Aspen and “Snowcap Creations,” her new business venture in Detroit Lakes.

Gail was a fun-loving lady all her life, with a sense of humor and a quick wit.  She enjoyed cooking and entertaining, knitting, crocheting, growing plants, music, campfires, cards and her many dogs and cats over the years. Gail most of all enjoyed living at the lake and spending time with family and friends. She was affectionately known as “Auntie Gail,” always enthusiastically involved with her nieces and nephews when they would visit.

Gail is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Debra and John Pollock, of Arkansaw, WI, many Barnard and Schumacher relatives and in-laws on husband Cliff’s side. A special thanks to her cousin and neighbors Kyle (Dorothy) Barnard, who were always there to lend a helping hand the past several years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Cliff, and brother Michael Schumacher.

West-Kjos Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes is serving the family. There will be a private celebration of life next summer. To honor Gail memorials may be sent to the Frazee Care Center or Hospice of the Red River Valley.