Obituary: Louis A. Thompson, 77

Louis A. Thompson, 77, died on Jan. 8, 2014, in Palm Springs.

He was born to Agnes Rose Young and Louis Thompson on July 21, 1936, in Kasaan.

Mr. Thompson was raised in Kasaan and was given two Haida names: Xie'n Skinai, which comes from Daxién Skinai, "owner of a large bay" and La'na Kíngel, "the chief that looks at his village."

When the Alaska Native corporation Kavilco formed after the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1972, Mr. Thompson was present as one of Kasaan's representatives. He signed his name alongside Willard L. Jones, Robert I. Olsen, Rosemarie Young Trambitas, and Robert R. Young to Kavilco's Articles of Incorporation in 1973.

Mr. Thompson was named interim Kavilco board president in 1972 and elected to the full office of president in 1973. In 1975, he was hired as the company's field operations manager. At ITT Rayonier, he oversaw the purchase of approximately 100 million board feet of timber in 1980. He also negotiated a lease with Alaska Power and Telephone to build a tower on top of Kasaan Mountain to bring wireless technology to Kasaan.

Kasaan always brought back a lot of memories for Louie, and he loved to share them. Louie consented to audio recordings in 2007 and recalled names, genealogies, places, and the colorful residents of Kasaan in its heyday. Few people can recall the history of this little town like Louie Thompson," his friends and family wrote.

"Louie loved living as a snowbird in Palm Springs, (Calif.,) where he loved being in the sun and warmth. Louie and (his wife) Annette traveled the world three times when they went to meet Annette's family in Molde, Bergen, and Norway. This is a great loss to Louie's family in Wrangell, in California, and in various towns in Alaska, and by his many friends around the U.S. and Canada," his friends and family added.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Agnes Rose Young and Louis Thompson; his sister, Val; and his granddaughter, Aubrey.

Mr. Thompson is survived by his wife, Annette Thompson; his children, Carol (Bill), Erik, John (Suzy), Kristina (Patrick); and his grandchildren, Amanda, Sophia, Chris (Missy), Abbot, Matthew (Jessica), Logan, Willow, Jessica (Tyson), Trevyn, Brandon (Chelsea), Hailey, and Bug (Jeff).