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During the summer months of his high school and college years, he was employed by the Burlington Northern Railroad. Following graduation John attended Minot State University prior to graduating from the University of Minnesota College of Mortuary of Science. He became licensed as a North Dakota funeral director in 1953 and assisted his father in the operation of the Thomas Family Funeral Home, a business his father had established in 1926. John transferred from the Army Reserve into the United States Army on April 6, 1953 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. He was stationed at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin; Fort Riley, Kansas; and Camp Rucker, Alabama prior to serving as an intelligence analyst with the 113th Counter Intelligence Corps at Fifth Army Headquarters in Chicago. He was honorably discharged as a corporal on April 6, 1955 at Fort Sheridan after being accorded the National Defense Service Medal. John then returned to Minot where he continued his career as a funeral director. John married Lorraine Chelgren on December 29, 1957 in Minot. They made their home at 125 26th Street SW for many years before moving to their present residence in 1976. John became co-owner of the Thomas Family Funeral Home in 1957 and sole owner upon the death of his father in 1965. He was joined in the operation of the funeral home by his son Brad in 1984 and by his son Bryan in 1989. He had spent the past several winters in the Phoenix, Arizona area. A longtime member of the First Presbyterian church in Minot and had served as elder and an usher. In his younger years John was a member of the local American Legion baseball team and participated on several amateur baseball teams. As a young adult he was a member of the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps, Downtown Merchants and Professional Association, Colin Brown Y's Men's Club, Downtown Merchants and Minot Curling Club slow pitch softball teams, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and KEM Temple of the Shrine. He satisfied all the requirements to become Eminent Commander of the DeMolay Commandry No. 10, Knights Templar and High Priest of the Tyrian Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons within the York Rite Bodies. John also served as the NW District Governor of the ND Funeral Directors Association.
A quiet, unassuming, generous, supportive, and unique man full of idiosyncrasies, John especially enjoyed exercising at the YMCA, taking long walks in the community and fishing trips to Canada. He also enjoyed ski trips, family vacations, church dinners, coaching, attending local sporting events, as well as golfing and curling. He took great pride in the quality of his technical and professional skills and the personalized way they were presented. A special joy was his oasis of a well manicured lawn, shrubs, and colorful flower gardens at the funeral home in downtown Minot. His unique whistle, pat on the "tummy," "channel surfing" (TV and radio), along with his golf and curling attire, won't soon be forgotten. The family marveled at his ambition, his energy, and his ability to remember names and faces, but were most impressed by his respect and loyalty to the families he served and the dignified way in which he conducted a funeral service. Family: Wife: Lorraine Thomas of Minot; Daughter: Lorieejane Heetland and her husband Dr. Chris of Chandler, AZ; Sons: Bradley J. Thomas and his wife Jacqueline of Minot, Bryan D. Thomas and his wife Susan of Minot, and Dr. David Thomas of Minot; Grandchildren: Elizabeth, Brianna, Christian, and Andrew Thomas; Taylor Heetland; Sisters: Margaret Fauchald and her husband Jay of Bemidji, MN and Marian Poe and her husband Bill of Florissant, MO; Brother: Richard B. Thomas of Minot; Several Nieces, Nephews, and Cousins. John was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Pearl Nichol Thomas; sister-in-law, Grace Thomas; and niece, Laura Beth Thomas. Funeral: 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 14, 2001 at First Presbyterian Church of Minot. Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park Clergy: Reverend Dr. Bob Edwards, Reverend Rollin Rogness, and Reverend William Puls Special Poem: Susan Thomas Flag Presentation: Minot American Legion Post #26 Music: Dr. Virginia Geesaman, Organist for Prelude and Postlude; Gloria Schmidt and Karen Atwood, Organ and Piano duet of John's favorite hymns, Bonnie Rennich, Pianist and Accompanist, Jacqueline Thomas, Flutist during Prelude; Vocalists, Thomas Children rendering: "Homeward Bound" and "Coming Home," Congregational Hymns: "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," "Because He Lives," & "Lift High The Cross" Casketbearers: Eldon Sanders, Myron Hayhurst, Ernie Selland, Marv Avery, Mike Berg, Gordon Johnson, Don Hanson, Alden Bethke, George Chumas, Morris Broschat, Wayne Smith, Dennis, Helgeson, Shirley Martz, Duane Tollefson, Dale Flickinger, Bill Utke, Roger Herigstad, Dolores Luedke, Ray Dilland, John Sauvageau Honorary Pallbearers: John's family, friends, and those who shared his enjoyment of exercise, curling, golf, Canadian fishing trips, sports, and those who were supportive of his efforts at the funeral home. Back to November Services · Back to On-Line Obituaries |
John Walter Thomas was born on January 20, 1931 in Minot, North
Dakota to Ben and Lydia (Quist) Thomas. He was raised in the
Eastwood Park area of Minot and attended Sunnyside Elementary School
prior to graduating from Minot High School in 1949. 
Most recently he was a member of the reunion committee of the Minot
High School Class of 1949, Eagle's Aerie, Elk's Lodge, American Legion,
Moose Lodge, Kiwanis Club, YMCA, Minot Country Club, and Minot Curling
Club. He had served as coach of his children's youth basketball,
softball, and baseball teams, which won several city championships and
was a member of the Minot Recreation Commission Board of
Directors. He was a five-time state senior men's curling champion
and a national champion in 1986. Eight of the nine starters and
ten players total from the 1977 state American Legion championship
baseball team were members of John's city recreation league teams at
some point in their younger years. The past few years, he enjoyed
volunteering for the annual Thanksgiving dinner at the Parker Senior
Center.