In loving memory of

Dewey Thomason
June 9, 2011

Dewey DeRoy Thomason was born on September 18, 1924, in Nyssa, Oregon, the son of Charles Noah and Anona Bertha Otelia (Garmen) Thomason. Dewey entered into eternal peace on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at Garden View Care Center in Shenandoah, Iowa.

Dewey was raised on the family ranch in Nyssa. He was an active member of the local 3-H Club, before it was known as 4-H. The family moved to Vallejo, California where he graduated from Vallejo Evening High School with the Class of 1943, proudly wearing the uniform of the United States Army, as he had already enlisted to serve his country during WWII. During his service career he was stationed at Presidio of San Francisco and Guadalcanal Island during the Asiatic Pacific Campaign.

On April 21, 1946, which happened to be Easter Sunday, Dewey was united in marriage to Sophia-Louisia "Sandie" Merkel in Bismarck, ND at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. The couple was blessed with 52 years of marriage.

During his career Dewey was the owner of the Log Cabin Bar in Medora, ND, drove a truck for McKee Trucking and was accident and citation free for 8 years. Dewey worked as a field underwriter for New York Life Insurance in Bismarck until his retirement in 1998 after 36 years with the company.

He was a 50 year member of the Lions Club International, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 40 et 8, and German from Russia Heritage Society. Dewey had a passion for traveling. Some of his adventures took him to Russia, Australia, Alaska, Europe (several times) and all over the United States. He attended the Guadalcanal Veterans annual convention for the last 10 years. He enjoyed jazz and ragtime music (of which he had an extensive collection of music), attending festivals in Iowa, Missouri, Colorado and California.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Sophia-Louisia "Sandie"; and sister Mary Lou Buss Freitas.

Those left to honor his memory include his son David C. Thomason and wife Deborah of Bismarck, ND; daughter Jean "Jeanne" T. Wright and husband Clay of Shenandoah, IA; granddaughter Raydean Naylor and husband Ken of Roundup, MT; grandsons Dustin T. Wright and wife Cassie of Madrid, IA and Casey D. Wright of Des Moines, IA; great-grandsons Benjamin Naylor of Roundup, MT and Brody D. Wright of Madrid, IA; all his adopted Wright family; other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Kent and Sherri Hiser wrote on Mar 11, 2011:

"Jeanne, Clay and Family, Our thoughts and prayers to your family during this time. "

Carolyn Ruhde wrote on Mar 10, 2011:

"Dear Jeanne, So sorry I am not in Shenandoah right now to teach for you. Your dad was such a delightful man! Prayers to you and Clay and your family. Carolyn & Al Ruhde"

Roger & Katie Wright wrote on Mar 9, 2011:

"Jeannie and Clay, We are so sorry for your loss. We really Loved Dewey and he will surely be missed at all the FAMILY EVENTS. He truly was FAMILY and will be missed and mourned as such. Our Prayers and thoughts are with you."