Thiet Van Nguyen

Thiet was born on Feb. 2, 1937, in Saigon, Vietnam, to Nguyen Van Luong and Ngo Thi Nga (Nguyen). He graduated from the Vietnamese National Military Academy (VNMA) in Dalat, Vietnam; the 14th Graduation Class of VNMA, in 1962. Upon graduation, he served in the Vietnamese Air Force and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He and his family immigrated to the United States after the fall of Saigon in April of 1975.

First English Lutheran Church brought his family to Faribault, Minnesota in August of 1975. The church congregation generously provided his family with a furnished home and helped tremendously in the resettlement in America. The Purdie family offered him his first job at one of their factories, Bonanza Sports, Inc., a subsidiary of Gopher Shooter’s Supply. He worked there for six years, first as a polisher and then as a machinist. He then went on to work at the Faribault State School and Hospital for the next 27 years and retired in 2008.

He was a wonderful and proud family man. He was grateful that his family lived in America and he took great pride in the accomplishments of all of his children and grandchildren. He was always thankful for the United States and raised his family to value duty, service, and sacrifice to this country. In retirement, he thoroughly enjoyed traveling back to Vietnam with his wife and spending much time with two of their eleven grandchildren, Samantha and Jason, who lived nearby in Faribault.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Thai Thi (Luong) Nguyen of Faribault.

He is survived by his five sons, Tuan V. Nguyen, Dung V. Nguyen, Quoc V. Nguyen, Hung V. Nguyen, Trung V. Nguyen and daughter, Thuy V. Nguyen (Smith); and eleven grandchildren; Jennifer, Jessica, Britani, Caitlin, Samantha, Victor, Lauren, Jason, Clark, Faith, and Benjamin.

There will be a private service at Peek Funeral Home in Westminster, California, on Oct. 14, 2020.