Alvin "Ace" Thomas, 69, Lake Benton, died Sunday, May 15, 2011 at Canby Nursing Home, Canby.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 18 from 4-7 p.m. with prayers at 6:30 p.m. at St. Genevieve Catholic Church, Lake Benton.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 19 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Genevieve Catholic Church, Lake Benton.
Interment will be in the church cemetery.

Alvin "Ace" Thomas was born Aug. 27, 1941 to Elmer and Alvina (Weinkauf) Thomas on a farm near Holland. He grew up on the farm in a large family of 14 brothers and sisters and he received his education in Holland and Pipestone.

He married Ellen Steele on July 13, 1963 at St. Leo Catholic church, Pipestone. The couple made their home in Ruthton, Tyler and in 1975, they moved to Lake Benton. Ace worked as a mechanic and loved to fix and tinker. He worked 15 years in construction for Larry Sterzinger and later worked independently as a truck driver delivering mail. He retired in 2005 due to health complications and was doing kidney dialysis for the past six years. He entered Canby Nursing Home in 2010.

He was a member of St. Genevieve Catholic Church, Lake Benton. He was a member of Pheasants Forever.

He is survived by his wife, Ellen; children, Paul (Pam) Thomas, Buffalo, LeAnn Thomas, Burnsville, Peter (Jennifer) Thomas, Mankato, and Jason (Becky) Thomas, Elkton, S.D.; seven grandchildren; brothers, Frank Thomas, Waldorf, Md., David Thomas, Sioux Falls, S.D.; sisters, Evelyn Schmidt, Sioux Falls, Fay Dehlar, Milaca, Elener Muller, Milaca and Carol (Ralph) Courtney, Tyler.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lorie Ann Thomas and siblings, Richard Thomas, Ed Thomas, Ellen Fett, James Thomas, Millie Thomas, Sharla Thomas and Ardis Knutson.