Edwin Thomas, age 79, died Friday, Mar. 14, 2008 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls. Funeral services were to begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Mar. 19, 2008 at Peace Lutheran Church with burial to follow at the Lennox Cemetery.

Ed was born to Elmer and Alvina (Weinkauf) Thomas and was raised on a farm near Holland, MN. In 1947, he graduated from high school at the West Central School of Agriculture in Morris, MN. He proudly served this great country in the Army while stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska, during the Korean War.

After the war, Ed met the love of his life, Lois (Otten), and they were married Nov. 22, 1957 in Lennox, SD.

They spent 50 years together raising three children. Ed returned to his agricultural roots; beginning his career as a farm implement mechanic, and then moving to teaching farm mechanics at Canby Vocational School in Canby, MN.
Ed was a member of Peace Lutheran Church and enjoyed his time with the Tuesday Men's Breakfast Bible Study and the Friday Morning Bible Study Group. He served on the Board of Green Lake Lutheran Bible Camp, Spicer, MN and as an ambassador for the camp at Our Savior's Lutheran in Canby. After retiring to Sioux Falls, he enjoyed volunteering for Lutherans Outdoors of South Dakota.

Ed is survived by his wife Lois, children, Brenda- Sioux Falls, Erwin (Tina)- Atlanta, GA, Byron (Janet)- Shakopee, MN, grandsons Matthew Thomas, CLB-22 USMC, Camp LeJeune, NC, Ean Thomas- Tifton, GA, brothers Frank (Phyllis), David, Alvin (Ellen), sisters Ellen Fett, Elener Mueller, Faye Dehler, Evelyn Schmidt, and Carol (Ralph) Courtney, sister-in-laws Carol (Chuck Jensen) Thomas and Delores Otten; brother-in-law, Walt Otten; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers James and Richard, and sisters Mildred, Ardis Knutson, and Sharla.