Bill Thomas

George William "Bill" Thomas 87, of Dubois, Idaho passed away in Idaho Falls at Tambree Meadows on January 28, 2018.

He was born February 17, 1930 in Dubois, Idaho the second child of George and Afton (Laird) Thomas, he joined older brother Bob and later came younger brother Jim. His parents and grandparents were cattlemen, sheepmen and farmers, so Bill has always done what came to him naturally. While growing up on lower Medicine Lodge one of his main jobs was herding 100 to 150 head of horses out to the stallions and keep them out on the range.

He married Edna Frederiksen on July 23, 1950 in Kilgore Idaho and they have three children, Willa, George and Conni. Bill and Edna spent their first year of marriage in the Henry’s Lake area tending sheep for Roy Laird Ranches. In 1952 Bill went to work on the Garrett Ranch in Medicine Lodge and worked there as foreman for most of his 22 years there before moving to Dubois to ranch on his own. Bill lost his sweetheart Edna on January 5, 2007.

Bill had built up his own herd of Hereford-simmental cross cattle while in Medicine Lodge and purchased land with partners in Indian Creek to run them on after leaving the Garrett Ranch. He also worked with his brother Jim raising cattle, sheep and dry farming wheat. When the sheep market dropped substantially the sheep were sold and the brothers concentrated on the cattle.

Bill has always been a conservationist in a rancher’s way. He is mindful of taking care of the land knowing it will always take care of him. He was one of the founders of a water line that starts at Cottonwood Springs and runs clear to Dubois providing water for cattle to drink, therefore utilizing more areas for grazing and preventing overgrazing. Bill always brought home top weaning weight calves in the fall, due to his good management of the cattle and the land.

Bill is survived by his children, daughter Willa (Rex) Swim of Firth, son George, daughter Conni (Marty), and his faithful dog Blue of Dubois, and sister-in-laws Donna Thomas and Nancy Frederiksen. He was preceded in death by his wife Edna, parents, an infant daughter and his brothers Bob and Jim.

Services will be held Friday, February 2, 2018 at the Beaver Creek LDS Ward in Dubois, Idaho, at 2:00 pm, with the family visiting friends from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in the Dubois Cemetery. Memorials can be sent to Heritage Hall Museum, PO Box 104, Dubois, ID 83423.

Funeral Services will be held