Thomas Berry Jones was born April 15, 1934, in Pierre, South Dakota, the oldest son of Ralph and Faye Lucille (Berry) Jones.

He grew up on the family ranch at Midland, South Dakota. His mother home schooled him his first year of school then moved to town year-round. Tom graduated from Midland High School in 1952.

On March 10, 1953, he was united in marriage to Mary Adline Stotts of Okaton, South Dakota. They made their home on the original Tom Jones homestead where they have resided for forty-nine years and raised a family of five; Mary Jo, Thomas Rex, Jesse Paul, Jane Adeline, and Lana Faye.

Tom ranched with his dad and brothers, changing the tradition of running Hereford cattle to Charolaise and Charolaise cross cattle. He bought some earth moving equipment and built several stock dams on the Jones land. His next investment and true love was trucks, starting with a single axle to haul the saddle horses to the basin for the fall round-up, later buying a semi with cattle and grain trailers. Thoroughly enjoying the trucking, he sold the cattle in 1985 and leased the pastureland out.

Tom was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Midland, the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, and had served as President of the South Dakota Junior Livestock Association. He was a director of the South Dakota Charolaise Association, a member of the National Cattleman's Association, the South Dakota State Brand Board, the Land Improvement Contract Association, and the South Dakota Trucking Association. He had served as chairman of the Board of Directors for First National Bank in Philip, and has held various offices in the Masonic Lodge and Order of Easter Star.

Grateful for sharing his life is his wife of forty-nine years, Mary; two sons Tommy Jones of Midland, and Jesse Jones and his wife Janie of Hico, Texas; three daughters, Mary Jo Jones, Jane Romero and her husband Tim, and Lana Sanftner and her husband Tim, all of Kadoka; thirteen grandchildren, Marinda, Landon, and Austin Flom, Drew and Preston Jones, Manuel, Francis, Daryl, Olivia and JoAnna Romero, Kristy Polk, Shawn Prine and Ryder Sanftner; five great-grandchildren Cody Derr, Teagan Flom Parks, Shelby and Sydney Polk, and Anikah Prine; three younger brothers, Ralph "Shorty" Jones and his wife Maxine, Jerry Jones and his wife Joy, and Morris Jones and his wife Barbara, all of Midland; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother James Jones.

Visitation was held 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, at the Rush Funeral Home in Philip, and one hour preceding the services at the church.

Funeral services for Thomas B. "Tom" Jones, age 68, of Midland were held 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15, at the Midland School Auditorium.

Interment was in the Midland Cemetery.

MINISTER
Pastor Paul Bly

USHERS
Keith Harry - Lee Addison

PALLBEARERS
Jesse Jones - Tommy Jones
Scott Jones- Barry Jones
Larry Hagan - Jeff Jones

INTERMENT WITH MASONIC RITES
Midland Cemetery
Midland, South Dakota

Dad,

We will forever miss your warm smile, your strong will, and your magnetic personality. You will always be our silent mentor.

Love,
Mary Jo, Tommy Jesse, Jane, and Lana

P.S. Now you don't have to worry about people twinking around.