Larry Dean Thomas

Larry Dean Thomas, 77, formerly of Bruce, South Dakota passed away on July 20, 2024.

Larry was born on August 31, 1946, to Lloyd and Amy (Powell) Thomas in Marlow, Oklahoma. Growing up, his family moved several times from Oklahoma, to New Mexico, Colorado, and British Columbia, before finally settling in California. Larry graduated from Tulare Western High School where he played guitar in a band he formed with his brother Ron and their friends. While he was in high school, Larry worked making deliveries for drug stores and building fences. After he graduated, he worked at California Pretzel.

Larry married Linda Smith on December 31, 1972, and they had two children, Jason and Joshua. The family moved to Bruce, South Dakota in 1979, where they bought an old farmhouse with acreage and worked together to restore it during the 43 years they lived there.

Larry worked at Advance in Brookings, South Dakota for 30 years, receiving the South Dakota Outstanding Citizen award for his work negotiating employment contracts for people with special needs. He was also recognized for starting the S.T.A.R.S. therapeutic riding program, which continues to serve the Brookings community to this day.

In 2022, Larry and Linda moved to be closer to their family. Larry loved his family, playing the guitar, fishing, watching sports on TV, and woodworking. But his grandkids brought him the most joy.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Linda; children Jason (Lisa) and Joshua (Jennifer); grandchildren Xander, Cordelia, Enora, and Fiadh; adopted-in-his-heart son Houston Moffett; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great- grandnieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter, twin grandsons Cole and Gannon, his brothers Wade, Art, Eddie, and Ron, and sisters June, Mildred, Wanda, Judy, Lila, and Willa.

A graveside service and burial will be held at Alida Cemetery in Alida, Minnesota on September 7, 2024. In remembrance of Larry's life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the S.T.A.R.S. program, available at http://www.starsbrookings.org/donate.html