Julie Thomas

Julie Thomas, 55, of Sioux Falls, S.D., died Oct. 12, 2017, at a Mayo Clinic hospital in Rochester, Minn.

  She was born Dec. 16, 1961, in Sioux Falls. She attended Sioux Falls public schools and received a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education in 1984 from Augustana College, now Augustana University. She later attended Nettleton Community College, obtaining an associate’s degree in paralegal studies in 1994. In more recent years, she completed a substantial amount of coursework at Sioux Falls Seminary.

  She taught for 15 years in special education and in third- and fourth-grade classrooms, mostly in Sioux Falls. At the time of her death, she was an administrative assistant for Prison Congregations of America, a national organization based in Sioux Falls, and was serving as a CASA volunteer, advocating for children involved in cases of abuse and neglect.

  Julie married Bruce Falk on Dec. 23, 1995, in Sioux Falls. Their son, Samuel, was born in 1999 in Las Vegas, where they lived for a decade before returning to their native area.

  She was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer in 2003 and received a liver transplant in 2004. Recurrence of her cancer eventually led her to seek a second transplant, which she received on Sept. 6, 2017. Complications led to the need for an emergency third transplant on Oct. 12, a procedure that she did not survive.

  Julie’s greatest satisfaction was rooted in her ability to rise above many medical obstacles to live a rich, full life – a life focused primarily on guiding her son into young manhood. She died with a sense of pride and comfort in his achievements and his bright future.

  She is survived by her husband and son; her parents, Jeanine and Arlyn Thomas; her sisters, Laura Brandt and Lisa (Greg) Hahn; and a brother, Jim (Holly) Thomas. All live in Sioux Falls except her brother, who resides in Charleston, S.C.

  Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 2001 S. Elmwood Ave., Sioux Falls. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, also at the church

  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in the form of donations to Prison Congregations of America, P.O. Box 1335, Sioux Falls, SD 57101-1335.