Thomas Oliver Sanford was called home to heaven to be with his Lord and Savior early Saturday morning January 12, 2013.
Tom was born on June 20, 1927 in Kabo, Montana to John and Catherine Sanford. Tom spent his childhood in Montana and attended high school at Big Sandy. He joined the Navy in August of 1945 to serve his country. On October 10, 1947 he married Mary Fitzsimmons and the couple lived and managed ranch properties until he joined the Montana Highway Patrol in 1954. They lived in Polson, Montana where they raised their children, Tom E., Yvonne, Randy and Brian and in 1986 after 32 years of service to the Montana Highway Patrol, Tom retired in Kalispell and in 1992 they moved to Helena.
Tom was a wonderful husband and father to his family, he was loved by his wife and children and respected by his friends and the community and had a great sense of humor that everyone enjoyed. He loved baseball and as his sons grew up he coached them in Little League, Babe Ruth and Legion for 12 years in Polson and Kalispell.
Tom is preceded in death by his parents, John and Catherine Sanford, his brother, Jim Sanford and sister, Judy Johnson.
He is survived by his wife, Mary of Helena; his children, Thomas E. Sanford, Yvonne (Charles) Brooke of Helena, Randy (Stephanie) Sanford of Wenatchee, WA and Brian (Tammy) Sanford of Phoenix, Az.; sister, Vera (Art) Matson of Polson, Mt; ten grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren.
A private burial with family present will be at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison. A memorial service celebrating Tom’s life will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 18, 2013 at Liberty Baptist Church, 210 Sierra Road West in Helena.
In lieu of flowers, Memorials in Tom’s name are suggested to the Liberty Baptist Church Worldwide Missions P.O. Box 911 Helena, Montana 59624. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer the family condolences or share a memory of Tom.
Holly Sanford says
Tom was my father-in-law for twenty years. He taught me many things that have become a part of my being. He and I worked on Brian’s cars for hours fixing everything. He did the work and I handed him tools. He was a wonderful grand father to my children. He spent many hours volunteering his time to help Brian coach the Kalispell All Star team that Shan played on. He worked mostly as the pitching coach. His patience was phenomenal. It was so very special to see him at Aaryn’s wedding and to give him a hug. In many ways he was a father to me for years. Every fall he and I would get wood for our home and his. I loved how he always talked himself into buying himself a Christmas present each year. He had a way of getting people around him to reach a little higher, to excel a little more, and to expect better things for themselves. I miss you, Tom.
Holly Sanford says
Okay, I have another memory I have to share. We all went camping down on the Swan. Tom took my girl Aaryn fishing. She was just a little thing maybe 5-6 yrs. They had to cross the stream and, while wading across, she fell– splat! in the water on her behind. Tom marveled that she started laughing at herself instead of crying.
Once, they went to the fair to ride the rides. She always liked the scary ones and could never find any one to ride with her. Bumpa volunteered and away they went. He hung her upside down and they both got a very large charge out of that one. He said he wanted to take her up flying– maybe some day he will.
Lauren Crawford says
Tom Sanford is my Grandpa. Hes going to be missed so much. All my memories with him are very special. I remember going to visit grandma and grandpa and picking veggies from Grandpas garden. I remember playing card games with him, crazy eights, spite and malice. Getting upset with him when he tried to tell me how to play even though he was just trying to teach me better strategies. Telling his funny stories…one in paticular about a mag pie that would come peck him every time he went out to get the mail. Oh how i wish i could hear him tell me that story one more time. I’ll never forget that smurk on his face when he would crack a joke. Grandpa Tom, I love you and miss you!!
JANICE SANFORD says
Tom was my father-in-law for 17 years. He was know as Bumpa by all his grandkids. He was the best father-in-law ever. He had a look about him that would scare you if you didn’t know him. I remember the first time I met him….big tall guy in a uniform. But he had a huge heart. And he could make you laugh. Always made sense out of things that didn’t make any sense to me. Calming person. Good role model for us and grandkids. Helped us in all aspects of life. We were always glad to see him pull up in his patrol car. The list could go on and on. Words can not tell how much he meant to us all. He was bigger than life. I have and will miss him.
JANICE SANFORD says
One more thing….his passing on January 12 was the birthday of my daughter, his granddaughter, Lauren Elizabeth (Sanford) Crawford. He will always be remembered on that date.
Mike Meredith says
Although I did not know Tom well when we both lived in Polson, I knew that he was an honorable man and a good father. He helped raise some great kids.
Mike Roberts says
You Sanfords are all Lucky to have Tom as your Patriarch. He obviously was a great dad! I’m sad for your loss, but happy for what he gave you! Take good care of Mary. You’re all real Lucky to have her too!
Gary Peterson says
Tom is my uncle, he was a wonderful man that will be missed! He was fun loving person, with a super heart! A hard working family man with great values! I have many wonderful memories of Tom, whether they be times just visiting with him and Mary or with family visits with the Sanford’s, Peterson’s or Fitzsimmon’s. I expecially remember the family visits to Polson, where Tom would play ball with us boys, take us swimmimimg, golfing, fishing or just gather to play his musical instruments in the evenings! One time I went flying in an airplane with him what a thrill for a young child! I always looked forward to going to Polson it was always a fun time! Tom had a super personality, and was very fun to be around! Tom I will miss you, God Bless You and Rest in Peace! Mary and all of the Sanford family you have our deepest heartfelt sorrow, I Love You all!
Take care and let the memories fill your hearts.
Kevin Knaus says
Tom had an indomitable spirit, faced challenges with inspirational effort and courage, and always was able to laugh. If the world were truly like Star Wars, Tom was a jedi on the good side of the force. And that is in many ways a literal truth, though perhaps he did not talk about it much. He explained to me in 1973 that people just didn’t understand that sort of thing and so he chose to mostly keep it to himself. Ultimately, he explained, regular life was every bit as challenging and amazing as the somewhat mystical things he was able to do, and so he went into the former more vigorously. But, he knew more than most, perhaps any, about the latter. My endless thanks to Tom and the rest of his family and my very sincere condolences on his passing. Tom was bsolutely one the best adjusted people I have ever met, and someone who I consider myself extremely fortunate to have known. -kevin knaus
Joe R. Sol says
Tom and I worked together in Lake County for eight years. He was a outstanding officer, great partner and true friend to me. 50 years later 169 and I are still patroling the highways in my dreams. God bless him Joe R Sol
Aaryn Archibald (Sanford) says
Tom Sanford was my grandpa, of course we all knew him as “Bumpa”. Bumpa was(is) an incredible man. I remember him teaching me the Texas-Two-Step and still to this day that is the only way I know how to dance to a county song. He had a variation on it where we would take the two quick steps forward and one slow step back with a slight angle to turn. He would lead that pattern in a spinning motion all over the living room, surprise twirling me at will in order to make it more exciting. He was so tall I was basically dancing with those long legs, staring into his shiny gold belt buckle that looked to be the size of Montana itself. If I looked straight up I could see that big cowboy hat brim and his huge grin, but most of the time I remember watching those enormous cowboy boots and trying to keep up with them. Sometimes, he would just let me stand on his boots completely so it was easier. He was always teaching us and helping us, making thing easier, but making sure that we would learn something with each wrong step. And he never seemed to be annoyed by it. He would open his home to all us grandkids to sleep over all the time, didn’t care if we were a bunch of crazy loud kids. He would throw a big Fourth of July family get together every year, GrandMary would make the most delicious dishes and Bumpa and our dads would get a bunch of fireworks. He loved Montana and the history of it and would tell us the best stories about how life was when he was a young man and also his own dad’s stories too. He loved to show me pictures of himself when he was a young man. He would always ask me, “Who is this good looking guy?” while holding the photos. The same joke a million times, always with the same smirk. I noticed one of the pictures was chosen for his memorial pamphlet and it made me so happy, it was perfect! He called me his “sweet baboo” like on the Peanuts comics, but I had never seen it at such a young age. I assumed he was calling me a baboon! When I finally spoke up to protest the insulting nickname, he laughed so hard there were tears in his eyes. We still laughed about it every visit I had with him. I know we will laugh about it again soon too. I love you Bumpa, and I can’t wait for you to show me where the best old fashioned country western dance floors are in heaven when I get there. Save me a dance and I’ll bring some cowgirl boots!
Dutch Meyer, retired trooper says
You couldn’t ask for a nicer guy to be a friend with. Tom was one of a kind.
169, you are now 10-10 and on your last patrol. We will meet again.
R. I. P. Tom!