Funeral services were conducted at two o’clock on Friday afternoon, September 20, 1963 for Hugh Arthur Thomas, better known as “Art” Thomas. The services were conducted from the Torgerson Funeral Chapel with Rev. T.A. Salveson officiating. Donn Holder was the soloist and he was accompanied by Mrs. Millard Cole. The vocal selection was “The Twenty-Third Psalm”. The pallbearers were all nephews and they were James Noble, Marvin Penton, Max Thomas, Phillip Thomas, Garth Thomas and Robert Hanson. The interment was in Riverside Cemetery.
Hugh Arthur Thomas, son of the late pioneers James and Mary Ann Levis Thomas was born July 6, 1894 on the Thomas farm in Spring Creek, Town of Albion, four miles west of Black River Falls. The farm has been in possession of the family for eighty five years and has been owned and operated for the past twentyeight years by Art and his sister, Mrs. Thressa Durrin.
Mr. Thomas had been in failing health for more than a year, suffering of a cancer which failed to yield to surgery or treatment. He passed away September 17, 1963 at his home where he had been born 69 years before and which place had always been his home. He was unmarried. His great interest was in his farm, its cattle, pastures and Nature. He particularly loved the ever changing seasons. Art often commented sunrises were more beautiful than sunsets and he had seen enough of them to really know. He understood human nature and was kindly in his judgements. He had a sense of humor and a quick wit, which remained with him until within a few days of his death. He will be missed by his family and many friends.
He was an outstanding patient during his illness and never complained. The devotion of the members of his family and the concern of this friends testified to the type of man he was and the regard in which he was held.
The eleventh of thirteen children, he is survived by four sisters, Mrs. Margaret Penton, Mrs. Thressa Durrin, Mrs. Harriet Noble and Mrs. Grace Holder and by three brothers, Mark, Frank, and Levis, all of Black River Falls. He is also survived by seven nieces and fourteen nephews. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Sadie, Mrs. James Noble, Julia, Mrs. Elwood Johnson, Emma, Mrs. Anton L. Gilbertson and two brothers, George and Don Thomas.