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BORN
1920
DIED
2013
Cleon Thomton Obituary
Cleon C. Thomton, 93, passed away after a brief illness on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 with his family at his side.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 24 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church Chapel in Sioux Falls.
Cleon was born in Montevideo, MN, on February 11, 1920 to Emil and Julia (Lund) Thomton. He graduated from Montevideo High school and joined the National Guard. When the Minnesota Guard was federalized he was shipped to England in 1942. It was there that he met his future wife, Violet M. Thoroughgood. She was serving in the Women's Land Army to support the war effort. Prior to leaving the United States with an infantry unit he had applied to the Army Air Corps. His orders finally caught up to him while training in Ireland. He was sent back to the states for his flight training and returned to England in 1944 as a pilot in the 56th fighter group flying the P47 Thunderbolt. He flew 74 missions over Europe with the outstanding unit known as Zemke Wolfpack. When he returned to the states he and Violet were married in Montevideo on July 12, 1946. As a young man he enjoyed hunting with his Chesapeake retriever, Pepper and fishing. In midlife he developed a love for golf which he enjoyed with his wife throughout their retirement from the LP Gas industry in Minnesota and North Dakota, becoming a district manager for Solar Gas Company until his retirement in 1982.
They had two children, Sandra Ann (Richard) Garnas, Sioux Falls, Curtis Lee (Karen) Thomton, Pelican Lake, MN; 2 grandchildren, Derek, Sioux Falls, and Cassandra Garnas (Dale) Nicholson, Little Rock, Arkansas; 2 great grandchildren of Little Rock, Natalee Ann and L.D. Nicholson.
He was preceded in death by his son Curtis, his wife Violet, his parents, his sister, Eldora Tusberg and a brother, Norton.
Committal services will begin at 1:00 pm Saturday at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Montevideo, with full military honors. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Our Saviors Lutheran Church Building Fund in Sioux Falls. www.heritagesfsd.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Cleon Thomton
4 Entries
Sally Nordby
May 30, 2013
My dad, Selmer Johnsrud, spoke of Cleon often and the memories they shared, including those of Montevideo. Dad died in December. The world won't be the same without them...they gave so much to their country and communities.
May 30, 2013
To Sandy and family, I just want to express my sincere condolences on the loss of your dad. He was a wonderful man and a kind gentlemen. My parents Warren and Idamarie Sletten absolutely adored your folks. They were my other set of godparents when I was baptized in Montevideo, MN. I remember fondly of looking so forward to seeing them when they would visit. Our folks were very good friends and will be missed. Time heals the loss, and you will always have fond memories. God bless you and your family.
Sincerely,
Chrissy nee:Sletten Leigh
Evelyn Garnas
May 23, 2013
So sorry for your loss. Be comforted in knowing he is now resting in pease. It seems unfair right now, time heals. May your many fond memories be of great comfort. Love you,Mom
Carl Hirschel
May 23, 2013
What a great man! Thank you for being a friend to me and another dad to my wife. I will miss your stories and history but remember them fondly.
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