Tom Allen

Tom Allen

Thomas James Allen

Tom Allen was born on December 28, 1940, the much loved and long-awaited first child of Ross Allen, Jr. and Helen (Stadheim) Allen. He had a wonderful childhood in Helena where he and his sisters Lynne and Bonnie were raised. He loved his dad's horses and spending time with his cousins and grandparents at the family cabins at Lincoln. He was a proud Helena High Bengal and was part of the (almost) state championship football team in 1958. An all-round athlete, he also excelled at baseball, track and basketball. It was at Helena High where he met the love of his life, Margot Roe, who he married in 1960. On a basketball scholarship, Tom attended Montana State University majoring in accounting. While in college, Tom and Margot had two children, Bill and Linda.

After graduation, Tom was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and served as a first lieutenant in the Army. They had one more child, Laura. After his discharge from the Army, he accepted a job as an accountant in Anchorage, Alaska, but it was a short stint as they missed their family in Helena. He returned home to help his dad manage the store, Allen Electric, which later evolved into Allen's Super Store. He was a gifted salesman, who sold appliances, satellite dishes and, later, bales of hay with the same level of enthusiasm. He was a community-minded business leader who served on many boards including the Intermountain Children's Home. He was active in the Cursillo movement and was a member of St. Mary Catholic Community and later St Cyril and Methodius Church.

In 1983 Tom and Margot moved to the valley where he could be close to his horses and began his second career in growing and selling hay. He added mules to his herd and so began his love of the long-eared sweethearts. He was active in the mule driving club and was the trailblazer on many pack trips leading many somewhat willing if wary riders into the back country.

His hope was to have a horse or mule for each of his grandkids to ride. Though his grandkids lived out of state, he kept in touch often calling them to place $1 bets on their favorite sports teams or professional golfers. He was a great golfer and had a library of books and DVDs devoted to improving his game.

Though he liked to travel, his favorite place was home. His mules would greet him with much commotion and kicking up their heels when they saw him returning to the farm. He was a fun-loving person who instilled in his family the importance of generosity and a strong work ethic. His passing has left a Tom Allen-sized hole in our hearts…which is pretty big.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by Bill Allen, Linda (Dan) Peters, Laura (Jim) Albus, Lynne Aronen, Bonnie (Dee) Pollock, Marcia (Bob) Barnes, Bob (Audrey) Peters, Tom Peters, Jake (Kaitlin) Albus, Becca (Ben) Dudek, Mary (Connor) Albus-Moore, and Cathy (Roger) Allen. He is also survived by eight great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.

We wish to thank St. Peter's Hospice and especially the staff of the Memory Unit at Touchmark, who were truly wonderful taking care of Tom through his final day which was October 16, 2025.

A celebration of Tom's life will be held at Anderson-Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home in Helena on Thursday, October 23rd at 6 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held on Friday October 24th at 12 p.m. at St. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in East Helena.

Memorials can be made to Intermountain, 3240 Dredge Drive, Helena, Montana 59602.

Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Tom.

Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

3750 N. Montana Avenue

Helena, Montana 59602

406-442-8520