Eugene Dale Thom

March 16, 1945 – Aug. 11, 2025 A burial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 15, 2025, at Tahoma National Cemetery with a luncheon to follow for Eugene Dale Thom, who was born March 16, 1945, in Langdon, N.D., to Elmo and Clara Thom. Eugene (or Gene, as he was more commonly known) was the second of six children and spent his childhood farming with his family and community in Langdon.

In 1964, as a young man, Gene moved to Seattle to pursue work. He was then drafted into the Vietnam War in 1965 and served two years in army combat. Before being honorably discharged in 1967, Gene was promoted to sergeant. After returning to the Seattle area, he met Jeannie Trimberger and began dating. In 1969 they married and relocated to Tempe, Arizona, welcoming their first son, Aaron. The couple moved back to the Seattle area in 1975 where they welcomed their second and third sons, David and Ryan. They raised their boys in Renton, Wash.

Gene worked in the construction industry all his career in varying capacities. He was a skilled carpenter and built both houses he lived in. Gene was superintendent of several large multifamily construction projects for many years. In his free time, he loved to fish for salmon all over the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands. Gene and his family spent many weekends boating and fishing when his boys were young.

Gene is survived by two of his brothers, Willie (Jackie) Thom of Langdon, N.D., and John Thom of Minot, N.D.; his three children: Aaron (Denise) Thom of Auburn, Wash., David (Mara) Thom of Maple Valley, Wash., and Ryan Thom of Kirkland, Wash.; his four grandchildren: Hannah Thom, Olivia (Brandon) Hanson, Elliott Thom, and Hudson Thom; and his great-grandson, Gabriel Hanson.