Ed Thomas

Ed Thomas

April 22, 1943 – March 25, 2021

Ed Thomas, 77, passed away on March 25, 2021 at Help for Health Hospice in Riverton, Wyo., from kidney failure.

Ed was born April 22, 1943 in a military hospital in Nevada, Mo., the only child of Irving E. and Jeanette (Misomelius) Thomas. He and his mother lived with her parents in Hyattville, Wyo., while his father was serving his country during WWII. They moved to Basin, Wyo., while he was in grade school. He graduated from Basin High School (now Riverside) in 1961.

When he was in the second grade, he made up his mind that he was going to be a school teacher just like Mrs. Berglen. He never wavered from that goal. During the 50 years that he held a teaching certificate, he taught in Hemmingford, Neb., Dubois, Deaver & Gillette, Wyo., Vancouver Canada, Little Wound School in Kyle, S.D., and Wyoming Indian at Ethete. After he retired, he substituted at Wind River and Shoshoni.

His second life love was riding bulls. He started when he was 12, riding into his mid-50s. He was fond of telling people that bull riding paid his way through college.

He was an avid hunter in his younger years, doing his own reloading. He also enjoyed fishing, catch ‘n’ release style.

Ed collected rocks all his life and as a retirement hobby, made many items from the rocks he collected. He was also an avid photographer, developing his own film and collecting many cameras over the years.

In June 2000, at an all-alumni reunion of Basin High, he reconnected with his childhood, across-the-alley neighbor, Susan Dering. They married in July of 2000.

He is survived by his wife, Susan of Riverton, daughter Tawna of Ferndale, Wash., son Ted of Texas, stepson Bennie Ortiz (Mita) of California; granddaughters Braquel Belknap of Washington and Tiffany Thomas of Pennsylvania; grandson Bodrie Belknap of South Dakota, step-grandson Kris Ortiz of California, step great-grand daughter, Olivia Ortiz of California and many cousins in the Big Horn Basin.

He was predeceased by his grandparents, Richard and Emma Misomelius; his parents, Irving and Jeanette Thomas; an infant son, Trent; grandson, Tyler Thomas, and numerous aunts and uncles.

Cremation has taken place. There will be a family gathering in June in Hyattville, Wyo.

 

Category: