Violet May Thomas

Violet M (Valentine)Thomas passed on to a greater place December 11, 2020 from complications of COVID-19, at Discovery Care Centre in Hamilton. Violet was born on July 8,1925, on the family farm east of Gowanda, New York. Farm life on Valentine Flats would prepare her for future life, in Montana, and introduce both her and her sister, Betty, to their future husbands. The Thomas brothers spent their teen years at a Boy Scout camp adjacent to the Valentine’s courting the girls.

WWII cut these teen romances short. Violet married Donald R Thomas, in May 1943 in Junction City, Kansas, and traveled with him stateside until his deployment overseas, on August 27,1944, the day after their first son, David, was born. During the war, Violet and Betty, both with their newborn sons, shared an apartment until their husbands returned from the war.

Shortly after the war, Violet & Don drove to visit her mother’s brothers, in Montana. As they left Don told Dick, “We’ll be back in a year.” In May 1948 they packed their belongings and now two young sons (Mike born in 47) into a rebuilt 1939 Chevy truck. Two arduous weeks later they arrived at the Willett ranch, forty-five miles of gravel road from the nearest Hardin, Montana grocery store, and 15 miles beyond the St. Xavier post office.

They moved into a tarpaper shack, and Don started looking for work. In the spring he become a ranch hand on Archie Wilson’s ranch further up the valley. Their third son, Archie, was born there, in 1951. Violet was first a mother and homemaker, but next she was a farmer. After breakfast she headed out to endless chores, or the back forty to irrigate, mow, rake, or whatever else needed doing, while Donald worked off the ranch at various jobs to make ends meet. She was active in the St. Xavier community. A 4-H leader, extension club member, and an active parent in the St. Xavier Public School.

In 1965, she started her “town life” when they to Hamilton, Montana. They bought acreage west of Hamilton, but her farm life partially continued. She always had a garden and horses. She was a founding member of the State Champion Bitterroot Mountettes. She worked at Wilma’s lunchbox and Anthony’s clothing until her 1982 retirement. Mom was a 48-year Eagle’s Lodge auxiliary member where she served as a trustee, working with fellow Eagle Auxiliary members, Virginia Woods, Millie Higgins, and others producing ongoing great banquets for the community.

The Tom and Darlene Hughes family played a huge part in mom and dad’s Hamilton life. Starting with trips to Arizona and South Africa, and continuous camping from Little Sleeping Child to Fales Flat campground, and beyond. The Hughes clan included mom in all their gatherings making her life unmeasurably richer.  Cheryl Patzer and crew at the Coffee Cup Cafe both mothered, and were mothered, by mom in her later years. Their kind and caring service providing both great meals, and social interactions enabled her to maintain her independence. Also, thanks to Delores Meuchels for being mom’s bingo ride, and Kay Williams, for being mom’s breakfast buddy. It was a joy for mom, age 93, to pick up Kay, age 99, and drive to breakfast.

Mom lived her final days at Discovery Care Centre, in Hamilton, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discovery’s staff is to be commended for their untiring, compassionate care under unprecedented COVID-19 community infection spread. They carry an undeserved COVID-19 burden for the entire community. Discovery Care’s employee’s sacrifice, dedication, daily grind, determination, personal individually responsible, and caring will forever be appreciated by her family. Thank you for your unheralded professionalism.

She is survived by her son, David Thomas of Rogers, Arkansas, Michael Thomas of Billings, Montana, Archie (Merry Schrumpf) Thomas of Hamilton; grandchildren, Leah (Stephen)Shelly of Mountain Home, Arkansas, Michelle (Jeff) Kay of Billings, Shane Thomas, of Billings,

Lindsay (Drew) Huls, of Corvallis, Cody Thomas, of Hamilton; great grandchildren, Isaiah and Jonas Shelly, Cade, Addison, and Makala Kay. Condolences may be left for the family and Live streaming is available at www.dalyleachchapel.com. A memorial service will be announced at a later date when mom’s life can be safely celebrated.