ALICE THOMAS obituary

Alice Joyce Thomas, 86, of Havre died peacefully in her sleep Friday, Oct. 21, 2005, at Northern Montana Care Center.

Viewing will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday with her funeral service to be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with burial to follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Vets Club immediately after the services at the graveside.

Alice was born in Havre on Nov. 6, 1918, to Clarence and Margaret Ryan Lowe and raised in Havre.

She married Clyde R. Thomas Sr. of Havre, in Spokane, Wash., on June 14, 1942. While stationed in Spokane, Alice worked as a dental assistant in Fort George, Wash. Upon his discharge from the Air Force, the Thomases returned to Havre, where together they built and ran the Shanty Motel and Restaurant and Clyde's In and Out Drive Inn. Alice's beloved son, Clyde Jr., was born Jan. 15, 1959, and was the light of his mothers eyes.

The businesses were sold in 1962 when her husband began work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Great Falls. It was then that Alice began her career as a licensed practical nurse at the Cascade County Hospital. They eventually moved back to Havre to operate Western Realty and Western Trailer Sales. Alice continued her work as an LPN at Kennedy Deaconess Hospital and eventually for Northern Montana Hospital and was named LPN for the State of Montana in 1975. Alice worked for NMH Emergency Room until her retirement in 1986, when, ironically, her cherished granddaughter became her last patient with a badly broken leg. Alice's easy smile, laughter and compassion made her a perfect nurse and she enjoyed every minute of her long career.

Alice continued to work full time at Western Trailer and Marine Sales along with her husband, her son and her grandchildren, making it a true family business.

Alice lost her beloved husband in 1989, but continued to work full time until illness forced her to retire again in 2000.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clyde Sr.; brothers, Leonard and Clarence W. Lowe; and sister, Rosemary.

Survivors include her son, Clyde Jr. (Vicky) Thomas; grandchildren, Brandalyn (Robert) Kurtz and Clyde “Duke” Thomas III of Havre; brother, James T. (Marie) Lowe of Havre; and numerous nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues.

Memorials in Alice's honor may be made to the MSU-Northern Nursing Scholarship, c/o MSU-Northern Foundation, P.O. Box 7751, Havre, MT 59501 or to the Shriners Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99210-2472.

Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.