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Edward Thomas
May 20, 1939 ~ April 04, 2018
Edward M. Thomas, age 78, was born on May 20, 1939, and passed away April
4, 2018, after a courageous battle with cancer.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Caroline; and sister,
Harriet (Kearn). Ed is survived by his wife, Vonna; brothers, Steve and Jeffrey;
sister, Julie; 3 children, (Christine, Brian and Mark); 2 stepsons, (Paul and
Scott); 3 grandchildren; 4 step-grandchildren; as well as nephews and
nieces.
Ed (Buzz) was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and grew up in Minneapolis
and Crystal, graduating from Robbinsdale High School in 1957. He graduated from
the University of Minnesota with a major in Civil Engineering and as a member of
the Army ROTC. Soon after college, he went into full time service with the Army,
and was stationed in Oklahoma, Alabama and Germany before tours of duty in
Vietnam. In Vietnam, he flew reconnaissance and other missions in a Bird Dog
aircraft. He had attained the rank of Captain when he left active duty.
When he returned to the states, he continued his flying with Northwest
Airlines where he was employed from 1967 to 1997. Through his career with
Northwest, he flew the 707, 727, DC-10 and 757. He became Captain in 1984 and
retired as a Captain on the 757. One of the joys he had was training other
pilots in the simulator during his last few years at Northwest.
As his kids were growing, the family spent time in the summer at Lake Ida
in Alexandria, Minnesota, enjoying time with family, fishing, water skiing and
going to the Saturday night stock car races. After his kids were grown, he moved
to Montana, living in Missoula and Bozeman, where he spent his retirement. He
really enjoyed the trout fishing in Montana and was talented in tying flies. He
also enjoyed bird watching, golfing and his model train hobby. He was very good
at joke telling and making people laugh.
Faith was important to Ed, and he and Vonna attended Hope Lutheran Church
regularly, where Ed sang in the choir and helped Vonna monthly with communion.
His faith grew during this time, and his favorite verse was John 3:16. His love
of God and his faith in Jesus showed brightly through to his last days.
Ed and Vonna's life together was a genuine short love affair for whom
nothing was more important than each other's company. He will be missed by his
wife of only three years who is eternally grateful he chose her to accompany him
in his later years.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 7, at 1 p.m. at Hope
Lutheran Church, 2152 Graf Street, Bozeman. Should you desire, memorials in his
name may be sent to Montana Cancer Support Community, 102 S. 11 Avenue, Bozeman,
Montana 59715.
Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service. www.dokkennelson.com
--------------------------
~ IN MEMORY ~
NWA Capt. Edward ‘Ed’ M. Thomas
May 20, 1939 ~ April 04, 2018
Word has reached us with the passing of RNPA member retired
Northwest pilot Captain Edward Myron Thomas, age 78. Captain Thomas
joined Northwest Airlines 07-10-1967. We understand that memorial services for
Captain Thomas will be held at a later date yet to be determined.
Condolences may be shared online at this funeral home website:
As more information is received, we will be sure to pass it
along.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
Funeral home death notice........................................
Edward Thomas
Edward Thomas, 78, of Bozeman passed away Wednesday, April 4.
Services will be held later this Summer.
Just learned that Ed Thomas passed
away last week in Bozeman, MT. Ed was wintering in MESA, AZ and was fighting the
last stages of lymphoma cancer. When it was determined that there was nothing
else that could be done and the end was near, Ed opted to return to Montana. He
passed peacefully, shortly thereafter.
A memorial will be celebrated
this summer.
Chuck Rogers -
BZN
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