Thomas Family Funeral

Website Links

Description

304 South Main Street Minot, ND 58701 Phone: (701) 838-2832 Toll Free: 1-800-228-3588 Fax: 1-701-838-6949 Email: thomasfh@minot.com Ben Thomas had just returned to LeSeur, Minn, to reopen his veterinary practice following sixteen months of overseas duty in France during World War I when his in-laws prevailed upon him to consider funeral service as a profession. This was only natural, since his wife Lydia's family was actively involved in the ownership and operation of the Welander-Quist funeral homes in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Ben (B.J.) Thomas earned his embalming certificate from the University of Minnesota in 1924 and after working for two years in the Twin Cities a tip from his brother, Evan J. Thomas, one of Minot's first engineers, encouraged him to consider Minot, ND as an option for his career in funeral service. B.J. purchased the Van Fleet Undertaking Company, located at 121 South Main Street, in 1926. The funeral home was located in the building later occupied by Anderson's D&S Bootery. During those early years, Sullivan's Floral Shop was located next door, Mowbray's Plumbing was downstairs, and the YWCA was upstairs. During this era, B.J. received assistance in the operation of the funeral home from Rosena Musch, Almond Strong, Del Hurd and Charles Prine. Later, in the Ben Thomas era of ownership Dene Taylor, Weyburn and Dale Niewoehner and Warren Tollefson provided assistance. B.J. Thomas died on March 3, 1964, at the age of 73. Ben Thomas served the Minot area as a funeral director and civic leader. He was involved with the YMCA, Minot School Board, Boy Scouts, American Legion, Masons, Shrine, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, First Presbyterian Church, and Order of Eastern Star. Following the completion of World War II, Ben Thomas foresaw the need to upgrade and enlarge his facility to better serve the families that called upon him for assistance. He purchased the former residence of Martin Jacobson, located at 304 South Main Street, Minot, in 1944. After minimal remodeling, the beautiful white house was converted to a funeral home in May of 1945. The stately old home that dates back to 1903, graces the south end of Main Street. It has withstood the test of time and has served as the funeral home for Thomas Funeral Service, Incorporated, for more than 55 years. Still present at the funeral home, and recently restored in 1999, is a stained glass window that depicts an embracing pair of beautiful young lovers as they shelter each other from "The Storm" in Pierre Augeste Cot's idyllically romantic piece dated 1880. The original painting is on display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, New York. Speculation by the window restorer is that the window was constructed shortly after the original painting was done by Pierre Auguste Cot and was placed in a building on the East Coast; then, purchased by Mr. Jacobson and transported from the East Coast to the prairies of North Dakota to serve as a focal point for his new home. During the 1920's and 30's, the home served as a rooming house for nurses employed at Trinity Hospital and for the general public. Ben's eldest son, John W.

Products & services

Similar companies nearby