Obituary - Thomas M. Stanley

Thomas M. Stanley (Standing Horse), a.k.a. Charles Bronson, Evening Star, 75, passed away due to natural causes Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at Peace Hospice in Great Falls.

Wake services began at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 22, 2022, and continued until his funeral service, which was at 10:00 a.m. today, September 23, 2022, all at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Burial followed in the Warriors Burial Grounds Cemetery.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Please visit Thomas' online memorial page to send a card or leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Thomas was born February 11, 1947, in Havre to Martin and Wilma (Myers) Stanley. He was raised in Rocky Boy and Hill 57 by his grandmother, Molly (Gopher) Myers until his teen years, as was tradition. He attended school in Havre. Following his school years, Thomas entered the U.S. Army and served until his honorable discharge in 1967. He moved to Los Angeles, CA, for trade school, and then returned home when his grandmother, Molly Myers, passed away. There, Thomas met Roxanne Boyer, and the couple married in 1968. They made their home in Great Falls, where they had their three children, divorcing in 1979.

He then married Karen Upham, who passed away in 1993. He married once more, to Sue Pate, and they too later divorced.

Thomas returned home to Rocky Boy in 2009, where he remained until his death.

Thomas enjoyed playing bridge, horse racing, dancing, playing the machines, and debate. He was a quiet, thoughtful man who was an avid reader. He was highly intelligent, and loved to explore how the government works.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Wilma Stanley; siblings Harvey, James, and Joycelyn Stanley; paternal grandparents, James and Mary (Thornmaker) Stanley, Sr .; and maternal grandparents, John Edward "Packie" and his favorite person in the world, Molly (Gopher) Myers.

Thomas is survived by his children, Marty, Lynn, and Rachelle Stanley, all of Omak, WA, and Kiefer Pate of Denver, CO; 16 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; former spouses, Roxanne Boyer and Sue Pate, both of Great Falls; sister Glenda (John) Winterrowd of Great Falls; uncle and best friend, Lawrence Myers of Rocky Boy; aunts, Peggy Myers of Rocky Boy and Yvonne Myers of Fallon, NV; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, especially Jackie (Chance) Houle and Lenore (Peco) Nault.