We lost the rock of our family Wednesday night. Above all else, Thomas Eugene Stoll, Sr., was a devoted husband, father, grandpa, and great grandpa. He was born December 21, 1928, the third son of Rudolph and Gertrude Stoll in St. Ignatius. He passed away March 7, 2012.
Work was Tom’s lifeblood. By the tender age of six, Tom was cashiering at his father’s bakery. In his last years, he cared full time for his wife, Larie.
Tom and his brothers, Jim, Ray, and Skip comprised the entire white student body at the Villa Ursaline Academy on the Flathead Indian Reservation. This childhood experience, along with the influence of his mother and Great Grandma Cope, led to a lifetime affinity for the culture and struggles of Montana’s first people.
He graduated from the St. Ignatius Mission High School in 1946. There, he and brother, Ray, played a mean game of six-man football. Tom played center, Ray played end. Their team set a Montana high school record for 37 continuous wins. His love of football continued throughout his entire life as a diehard fan of the Montana Grizzlies and Carroll College Saints.
With his brothers and cousins, Tom symbolized the Greatest Generation. He answered the call of duty at the end of World War II, enlisting into the Navy two days after graduating from high school. He served an 18-month tour of duty in Guam with the Combat Aircraft Service Unit, decommissioning aircrafts. He returned home and attended Gonzaga University until the death of his father.
Tom’s sense of duty and family compelled him to return to St. Ignatius to help his mother and grandmother. While there, he held several maintenance jobs with the Montana Department of Highways.
His favorite job at the highway department was timekeeper for the crusher crew. It allowed him to travel the entire state. He then travelled Montana by train with the U.S. Mail Service. It was during these years that Tom began racing hydroplanes in Montana, Washington, and Canada.
The need for a new hydroplane engine led Tom to Helena in 1952. His friends, Bill and Leona Johnston, introduced him to the love of his life, Mera “Larie” Murphy. They married two years later.
Tom and Larie’s daughters, Linda, Kathy, Paula, and Karen were all born within their first five years of marriage. In 1961, Tom and Larie welcomed their only son, Thomas Eugene Stoll, Jr. Leslie, the baby, joined the family in 1967.
Tom held several accounting jobs in Helena, Missoula, and Townsend, before he started his long career with state government. He became the administrator of the Department of Revenue’s Inheritance Tax Division in 1965, a job he held until his retirement in 1981. His retirement did not last long. By 1982, Tom was back working as a probate consultant for Luxan and Murfitt.
Always industrious, Tom also served as a recruiter and chief petty officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve and as a private tax accountant. He spent his free time building the family cabin at Canyon Ferry Lake and continuously remodeling the family home on Billings Avenue to accommodate his ever-growing family. Stoll kids slept to the rhythm of saws and hammers.
Tom often joked that his genes improved with every generation. He was particularly proud of his six grandchildren, Justin, Cryss, David, Stephen, Lauren, and Andrew. He was elated with the arrival of his four great grandchildren, Matilda, Tallulah, Andie, and Jessie.
Tom and Larie left their family home of 48 years in 2009 and moved to the Waterford. There, Tom renewed old friendships and made new ones. He called the staff his “guardian angels.”
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Rudy and Gertrude Stoll; his brothers, Jim, Ray, and Skip Stoll; and his son, Tom Stoll, Jr. Surviving Tom are his wife, Larie Stoll; sister, Rosemarie (Don) Phillips; daughters Linda Stoll (Frank Cote); Kathy (Bob) Blakesley; Paula Stoll (Kevin Keeler); Karen Nelson (Jim Gilman); Leslie O’Neill (Bill); grandchildren Justin Beveridge (Patty), Cryss Anderson, David Blakesley, Stephen Blakesley, Lauren Meeker (Dustin Spatzierath), and Andrew Peacock; four great granddaughters; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
The family invites Tom’s friends to a viewing at Retz Funeral Home on Sunday, March 11, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Services will begin at 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 12 at Retz Funeral Home followed by a burial at Fort Harrison. The family will host a reception at Jorgenson’s Restaurant following the burial.
Memorial donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the St. Labre Indian School, or the Disabled Veterans of America. To offer a condolence or share a memory of Tom, please visit: www.retzfuneralhome.com.
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Wes Thompson & Family says
Some of my fondest memories of Tom were around the Holidays. Our families would come together for a famous Christmas Day brunch or Thanksgiving Day buffet. One of my favorite memories of Tom is when the family was wishing someone that wasn’t there a Happy Birthday. He was part of the families making of a music video and was singing along to the Beatles “Happy Birthday” song. I was just a little kid, but thought he was hilarious really rocking out to the Beatles along with rest of the family wishing them a Happy Birthday.
Jane McKeever Mossman says
It’s said that when someone dies, a library burns. This is a particular reality with the loss of Tom Stoll.
Tom was a devoted family man and easy to look up to. He had a fabulous sense of humor, endless patience, and uncommon wisdom. Some of the happiest memories I have are of the times I’ve spent with the Stoll family over the years.
When I think of Tom, I will always remember his laugh, his kindness and the graciousness of the man.
My heart goes out to the Stoll family as you adjust to a life without Tom.
Helen Richter says
Larie and family,
I was sorry to learn that Tom passed away. My thoughts and prayers are with your family at this difficult time.
With deepest sympathy
Helen Richter.
Tracy Mabry says
Dear Linda and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Please know I am thinking of you.
Tracy Mabry
Paul Maloy says
My heartfelt condolences go out to the members of Tom’s family. I’ve known Tom for over thirty years and I will miss him greatly. Tom had the unique ability of making you feel good about yourself just by the way he engaged you in everyday conversation. He was indeed a gentleman, if he had an ego or any any sense of self-centeredness he kept it well hidden. He was a remarkable example of civility and I will always be grateful for having had the privilege of knowing him. As I looked upon him in his coffin, I saw the face of a man at peace… I think it’s a sign of God’s contentment for a life well lived.
Paul Maloy
sharikay says
Leslie, your Dad sounds like he ws quite a guy and by his picture looks like he enjoyed life along the way. Its hard to lose one so close but be glad you had him for so long.
Curt Synness says
Condolences to the family on the passing of Tom. When I was growing up, the Synness and Stoll families spent a lot of time together at each others’ cabins; ours below the Sleeping Giant, and theirs at Canyon Ferry Lake. We had five boys, and they had four girls. I will always remember Tom diving for rocks at their beach. Later on, he helped me enlist in the Naval Reserves during Vietnam.
Kirsten Faubion says
Linda and family,
So sorry to learn of the loss of your Dad. Very nice obituary, highlighting his interesting life. We here at HCTV are thinking of you during this sad time.
Kathy Moran-Johnston says
Condolences to the family – I worked with Tom for many years from a distance when I was a probate paralegal in White Sulphur and often sought his advice. It was great when we finally met – particularly since my Mom and his had played cards together in Mission for many years.
Don Murphy says
Aunt Larie, Linda, Kathy, Paula, Karen, Leslie, and the whole Stoll clan. My heart is broken for your loss. Uncle Tom was a great man, and I know he will be greatly missed by all. I wish my dad were here to hug your necks during this difficult time. My dad and I had the utmost respect for Tom and always spoke highly of him. I have very fond memories of a compassionate, patient man that took on raising a large family with love, a great smile, unique laugh, and a sense of humor, even through difficult times. He led a good life, and considered you all as his greatest reward. I know the good Lord has welcomed him home with open arms, and I pray that God grants you the peace in knowing that, and that He will see you all through this adjustment.
I love you all, nephew & cuz, Don Murphy
Tonna Strasko says
Linda, Paula, and family, I am so sorry for the loss of your father. He sounds very much like the “last great generation.” You all are in our thoughts and prayers.
God bless.
Tonna and Joe Strasko
Pete and Shannon Callahan says
I am so sorry to hear of Tom’s passing. My husband lived next door for a few years before we were married and they moved. We always loved talking to Tom over the fence, he had such great stories to share. He was especially kind to our 3 obnoxious dogs, they loved him. May your precious memories comfort you in the days to come.