Mass of Christian Burial for Dave Thomas, 69, of Dupree will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 4, 2024, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dupree. Burial will be in the Dupree Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.
Dave passed away Monday, December 25, 2023, at his home in Dupree.
David Paul Thomas was born in Dupree on Dec. 7, 1954, to Clinton and Arlene (Alwin) Thomas. He grew up in Dupree and graduated from Dupree High School in 1973.
Some of his summers were spent driving farm equipment and working with a combine crew from Oklahoma to Canada. He worked with his dad at the lumberyard until his untimely death in 1975. Dave was manager of Dupree Lumber for about 10 years, then worked for Dupree School as janitor overseeing many duties caring for the school and being the one to open the doors and close up after ball games.
Dave was then employed at Dupree Oil 30+ years as driver, office person, and handyman until his retirement (again being there to open and close up the business most days.) He oversaw the trucking of
December 7, 1954 – December 25, 2023
fuel, price changes, repairs, and as they say, anything not already in the job description.
Dave served on the Dupree School Board, as a Dupree volunteer firefighter, and as cook at Dupree celebration breakfasts. He starred in the Hee Haw Show during Pioneer Days, kept records for the Dupree Cemetery and helped with the upkeep of the cemetery. He supported many community fund raisers.
Dave enjoyed hunting and fishing and the company of his friends and family (who enjoyed his role as auctioneer at their reunions.) He attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church as a youth and later observed his Sundays by watching the Mass on TV.
He did NOT spend time on Facebook, but rather kept up with the local news by chatting with customers at work. He called his #2 lead pencil his computer.
Dave lived out his years as a member of the Dupree community and “earned his wings” taking care of his mother for 30 years after his dad’s death.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Clinton and Arlene Thomas, and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
He is survived and missed by a sister, JoAnn (Jody) Jordan of Benton, AR; a brother, Daniel (Colleen) Thomas of Everett, WA; an aunt, Evelyn Anderson of Dupree; cousins Chuck (Sharon) Capp, Virginia Lensegrav, Diana (Wally) Harper, Beverly Birkeland, Randy (Mona) Thomas, Lonnie (Nancy) Anderson, Vicki (Jay) Schilling, Perry (Karen) Anderson, Arlawayne Alwin, and Marlys (Jim) Geurant; nephews Chris Jordan, Michael Jordan, Alex Thomas, and Eric Thomas; nieces Karen Southworth, Mary Stringfellow, and Megan Thomas; and many friends in the Dupree area.