Deanna Mary Thomas

Deanna Mary (Kennedy) Thomas

January 21, 1938 - March 5, 2023

Deanna Mary (Kennedy) Thomas passed away in the early morning hours of March 5, 2023. She was born in Butte, MT to Wm. John and Mary (O'Brien) Kennedy on January 21, 1938, the oldest of six kids. She graduated from Girl's Central High School and studied nursing at the Sisters of Charity School of Nursing – St. James Unit at Carroll College, graduating in 1958.

One night, a classmate asked if anyone wanted to go out with her cousin who had just come back from the Army. The next summer, on June 13, 1959, she married Richard "Dick" Thomas and moved just up the street from where she grew up. Except while attending nursing school, and for the last 18 months while at The Springs, she lived on Lewisohn Street her entire life.

After working at Warm Springs and St. James Hospitals, she was a private nurse for the same patient for over 25 years. She was from the old school of nursing, always dressed head to toe in white.

Deanna was active in many organizations in Butte, including Junior League, Red Hat Society, and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians. She was a lifelong member of Immaculate Conception Parish, serving on the parish council, the Altar Society and as a Eucharistic Minister. She took great pride in decorating the IC altar for many years. She looked forward to the annual nurse's banquet, helping organize it for many years.

She also enjoyed monthly card games with her friends, playing Tripoley for pennies, followed by dessert. In later years, it was dinner and the Mother Lode Theater with her friends. She enjoyed holiday parties with family and fed lots of extra kids on St. Patrick's Day when they stopped by with one of her own children. Dick and Deanna were lifelong members of the Elks and enjoyed Friday nights out to dinner and dancing. She enjoyed camping most weekends during the summer, having the camper ready on Friday afternoons to head to the lake as soon as Dick got off work. Dick and Deanna, with their 6 kids, grandkids, and often a few extra in tow, would head to Harrison Reservoir, Georgetown, Canyon Ferry, or Hauser Lake for weekend trips with family and friends. Weeklong vacations often took them to Seeley, Flathead, Whitefish or Holland Lakes.

Deanna was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dick; brothers: Bill, Jack, and Jim Kennedy; son, Rick Thomas; and in-laws: Provis and Margaret Thomas; Vonnie, Leonard, Danny and Jack Thomas; and Dr. Roger McKenna.

She is survived by her children and their spouses: Julie (Jim) Downey, Diane (Skip) Arntson, Tim (Jeanette) Thomas, Dan (Juli) Thomas, and Pat (Tawna) Thomas; grandchildren and their spouses: Ashley (Zach) Lord, Andy (Tessa) Arntson, Adam (Megan) Arntson, Brittni (Ben) Rogers, Brian (Ryan) Thomas, Ariel Thomas, Josh Repsis, and Jacey Repsis; great-grandchildren: Ella, Tristian, Wyatt, Alaiya, Scarlette, Asher, Axel, Hyci, Maxton, Indiana, Chari, Harley, and Andi; sisters: Kay (Marty) Mulcahy and Joan McKenna; brother-in-law, Ed (Maggie) Thomas; and sisters-in-law: Sue Kennedy and Willie Thomas; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and life-long friends.

Relatives and friends may join the family at Immaculate Conception Church for the Rosary at 9:45 a.m. Saturday, March 11, 2023. Visitation to follow and a Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Deanna's life will be at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the St. James Healthcare Foundation for Nursing (425 Porphyry Street, Butte, MT), Lady of the Rockies, or the Butte Food Bank.