Thomas Bennett

STURGIS - Thomas James Russell Bennett, 42, Sturgis, died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011, in Deadwood.

Tom was born Oct. 15, 1968, in Vancouver, Wash., to Thomas L. and Myrna (Storlie) Bennett. They moved to Bismarck, N.D., when he was two. He attended Northridge grade school, Hughes Junior High, and graduated from Bismarck High in 1987. In school, he played basketball and soccer, but BMX racing was his sport. He raced in the first race Bismarck held and encouraged many to join.

He attended Palomar College in California and graduated from the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Phoenix in 1992. He worked on motorcycles several years in New Mexico and California until deciding selling was his preference. He sold motorcycles and cars in Calif., N.D., and S.D. He moved to the Black Hills from Mobridge in 2002 to work construction on the President's Park. He proudly signed one of the concrete paths. At the time of his death he was working for Bridger Norstegaard.

Music was his passion. He was often heard at open mike and karaoke nights. He always knew the words to every song. He played drums since he was two-years-old.

Those left to mourn his passing are his precious young daughter, Brooklynn Bennett and her mother, Alyssa Anders, and her grandparents, Steve and Sue Anders, all of Sturgis; his young son, Brandon Thomas Bennett of Albuquerque, N.M.; his brother, William Bennett of San Diego; his parents, Myrna and Brad Ansley of Escondido, Calif., and Tom and Tamra Bennett of Mobridge; his nephew, Christian Bennett and his mother, Karla, of San Diego; his aunts and uncles, Beverly and Steve Allen of Bismarck, Jim and Kathy Bennett of Mont./Ariz., and Russ and Sandi Bennett of Minnesota; and many, many special cousins, and friends.

Preceding him in death are his grandparents, Henry and Ethel Storlie, Morris Bennett, and Mickey and Cleon Willette, all of Bowman, N.D.; his stepbrother, Marc Ansley; and his aunt, Lura Williams.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. today at the Grace Lutheran Church with Rev. Michael Fox officiating. Burial will follow at Bear Butte Cemetery.

A memorial for an educational fund for his daughter has been established at NHFCU as the Thomas Bennett Memorial Fund.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.