September 22 1923 April 02 2020
Willie’s Obituary Willie Ellen Thomas, 96 died April 2, 2020 at her home in Las Vegas, NV. Willie Ellen (Billie) Thomas was born September 22, 1923 in Rapid City, SD to Seth and Pearl Smith. After graduating from Belle Fourche High School, she obtained her certification as a watchmaker from Bradley University during the war. Billie was an original member of the Belle Fourche Cowboy Band and continued to play until recent years. She performed as a professional drummer and Marimba player until shortly after the war. She then married her late husband Weldon Thomas October 8,1947 and they had two sons, Stanley and Richard. She had a long career in the jewelry business and became the Chief Bridal Consultant for M J Christiansen Jewelers in Las Vegas. Later she worked for several years as a realtor until retirement. She was also a member of Beta Sigma Phi, Daughters of the Nile, Eastern Star, and Den Mother for the Boy Scouts of America. She was preceded in death by her parents, Seth and Pearl Smith; her husband, Weldon; her sister, Jean Claire Dahlinger; sisters-in- law, Wanda Dungey, Georgia Fowler, Viola Fredlund and brothers-in law; Gene and Don Thomas. She is survived by her two sons, Rick of Las Vegas, NV and Stan and his wife Becky of Granite Falls, WA; six grandchildren and their spouses, Sharmel (Chad) Cavender of Saint Albans, WV, Cindy (Brooklyn) Obregon of Stanwood, WA, Shannon and Stanley of Granite Falls, WA, Claudia (John) Biendl of Locust Grove, OK and Aaron of Las Vegas, NV; she was also blessed with 12 great grandchildren, Gino, Esyna, Riley, Caleb, Phillip, Seth, Elaina, Elijah, Ethan, Little John, Elizabeth, and Alice; a nephew, Lance Dahlinger of Lead SD and Sister-in-Law, Muriel Jeffrey of Spearfish SD. She will be remembered as a sophisticated, shrewd and resourceful woman who enjoyed an active social life for many years. She carried herself with a classic elegance and was often described as a true lady. With the loss of her husband and several surgical mishaps mobility became an issue and she spent her last few years largely at home. She loved chatting and visiting even so and enjoyed each outing to the fullest. She was always delighted for the phone calls from friends and family, especially her grandchildren; those were very special and she would delight for days sharing stories with others. Due to current circumstances services will be at Kline Funeral Chapel in Belle Fourche SD at a future date. We will update the obituary website when we have a date for services. An online guest book is available at klinefuneralchapel.com Read More
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Willie Ellen Thomas September 22 1923 April 02 2020.
Death notice for the town of: Belle Fourche, state: South Dakota