Jim Thomas

James “Jim” Thomas Jr. age 60, of De Smet, SD, passed away on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. A Rosary will take place at 4:30 PM on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in De Smet, SD. Visitation at the church will follow the Rosary from 5-7 PM. A Funeral Mass officiated by Fr. Richard Baumberger will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, May 7, 2021, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in De Smet, SD. Music will be provided by Nicole Kirst as song leader accompanied by Julie Samson as organist. The service will be live streamed via the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel Facebook page.

Burial will be at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Cemetery. Military graveside honors will be conducted by the De Smet American Legion Post #138 and the U.S. Navy Funeral Honors Team. Honorary pallbearers will be: Jim Dugan, Doug Aden, Mike and Sue Sprang, Randy and LaVonne Bohn, and Dareld and Marlene Nelson. Active pallbearers will be: Doug Kazmerzak, Steve Kane, Verne Mosser, Bob Lee, Dillion Peterson and Bret Jensen.

James “Jim” J. Thomas, Jr. was born on September 28, 1960, to James J. Thomas, Sr. and Agnes (Morlock) in Bismarck, ND. He graduated from Milbank High School in 1978, and directly entered the U.S. Navy. While in the Navy, he married Robin Storrow on February 1, 1986, in North Bend, OR. In 1992, he was discharged from the Navy. Jim lived in Milbank, SD, before moving to Watertown, SD, where he sold real estate, furniture, and appliances.  Later, when Jim was working at Dugan’s Appliance and bar tending at the Drake, he married Susan (Pearson) Keating on August 8, 2009 in Willow Lake, SD.   In 2013, the couple moved to De Smet where they managed the Kingsbury County Country Club. After selling the country club, Jim settled at Lyle Signs in De Smet.

Jim was a member of the St. Thomas Aquinas Church, a 4th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus, and a member of the American Legion. He enjoyed cooking- specifically grilling and smoking meat. Jim also enjoyed singing and sang in the Barbershop Quartet, theatre, golfing, and any other activity that involved socializing.

Jim is survived by his wife, Susan of De Smet, SD; his children; Renee (Jackson Braafladt-Banks) Thomas of Minneapolis, MN, Jimmy (Amanda) Thomas and their children, Lydia and Isaac of Sioux Falls, SD, Justin Thomas and his son, Xander of Watertown, SD, Samantha (Taylon) LaMont and their children, Blakely and Chace of Carpenter, SD, Nathan (Abby) Thomas and their children, Meredith and Beckett of Watertown, SD, Ross Keating and his daughter Leah of Willow Lake, SD, Jennifer (Tony Weatherford) Keating and their child Billie of Parkston, SD, and Lucas Thomas of Marysville, CA; four sisters; Deanna (Brian) Kau of Fredricksburg, VA, Karla Thomas of Hyattsvile, MD, Susan Thomas of Topeka, KS, and Michelle (David) Haukoos of Sioux Falls, SD; and three brothers, Greg (Joni) Thomas of Milbank, SD, Steve (Shelia Hoffer) Thomas of Fargo, ND, Mike (Mandy) Thomas of Chattanooga, TN; his mother-in-law, Edna Pearson of Willow Lake, SD; many nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James, Sr. and Agnes.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel  De Smet, Watertown, Hayti, Bryant