Tom W Palmer

Thomas W. Palmer, 76, passed away on August 11, 2015 at the ranch in Raynesford, Montana. Private family services were held. He was the only child of Wilma (Springer) and Thomas H. Palmer; born to them June 12th 1939, in Great Falls. He graduated from Great Falls High in 1957. High School was a source of many of Tom’s frequent tall tales. Cheers to the BBD’s, a band of friends that formed in high school and endures to this day. After 3 years in college he married Karen (Lasker) Palmer and they had two daughters. In his early years he was a member of the Operating Engineers Union and worked road construction. Even at 76 he still enjoyed watching new road construction. In 1970 he took over management of the family ranch at Raynesford and enjoyed his work and was content that he could be living the rural life that meant so much to him. He was an active member in the National Farmers Organization. In 1975 he moved his wife and two daughters to the ranch. His daughter Wendy Palmer and her husband, Bruce Shultz, continue the 4th generation family ranch. Daughter, Cindy Palmer and her husband, Walter Schweitzer, ranch in nearby Geyser. For Tom’s 50th class reunion he was asked to list his greatest accomplishment and he wrote, “I stayed married to the same woman for damn near 40 years.” He and Karen divorced in 2000 but remained great friends. Fatherhood suited Tom and he spent countless hours sharing his values and thoughts, one of which was to have no children or more than one. He hated being an only child. He was blessed with 4 grandchildren: Kelsey and Hannah Schweitzer, and Jack and Georgia Shultz and an “adopted” son, Tom Seiloff. His grandchildren all agree holidays will be filled with fewer laughs and no more tall Tom tales, but they will continue to quote his stories for years to come. Tom enjoyed reading, movies, beer, cigars, mechanics, welding, politics, TV and spinning tales with friends and family. He is preceded in death by all the people that usually precede one in death and had recently been having vivid dreams of departed family. He is survived by all the people that usually survive one, which is yet another blessing in his life.