Lyle H. Thomsen

Funeral services for Lyle H. Thomsen, age 83, of Paynesville will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026, Paynesville Lutheran Church, Pastor Paul Shumaker will officiate. Lyle passed away peacefully at St Cloud Hospital on April 18th, 2026. Burial at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Little Falls will take place at a later date with family. Visitation will begin after 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at the church in Paynesville.
Lyle was born September 9, 1942 in Sydney, Nebraska to Theodore and Edith (Feldman) Thomsen. At age 4, the Thomsen family moved from their Gurley, Nebraska home and settled on a farm near Paynesville. After attending a country school near the home, Lyle graduated from Paynesville High School, class of 1960. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Army and served in Vietnam as a SP4, where he was a decorated helicopter mechanic, received commendation for marksmanship and served until his honorable discharge in 1963. After his return to Paynesville, he began his career as a professional truck driver. He also met his future wife, Kathy Spanier. They were married on October 15, 1966, at the St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville, MN and spent the next 59+years together, side by side and taking care of their 3 kids.
His trucking career spanned over 49 years and was employed at various companies, including Kermit Olson, AMPI, Warren Transport, Anderson Trucking, Kalthoff Transport, Viessman Trucking and finally retiring from Stone-Crafters. In between the millions and millions of safe driving, Lyle was a proud member of the Paynesville American Legion Post 271, Belgrade VFW Post 1825 and the Paynesville Sportsman Club.
Throughout his life, Lyle had a love of hunting and fishing, especially the time spent in his fish house on the lake during the winter months. His moments and events with his grandkids and great grandkids was the time he valued most. When he wasn’t hunting, fishing or spending time with family, he was probably watching his favorite westerns.
Lyle is survived by his wife Kathy Thomsen (Paynesville) and by his children Kim (Scott) Joos (Glenwood, MN), Craig (Jennifer) Thomsen (Urbandale, IA) and Bryan Thomsen (Fort Collins, CO). Along with his 4 grandchildren, Sydney Wyatt (RJ Macker), Blake (Raelynn) Joos, Sophie Thomsen and Meredith Thomsen and 2 great-grandchildren Lincoln and Mattie. He is also survived by his sisters Irene Bjerke, Trudy (Tony) Quill and Denise (Norm) Holte and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents, sister Eleanor Deadrick and brother-in-law Dal Bjerke.
Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers to the Paynesville American Legion.