MONTGOMERY, Thomas (1922-1997)

MONTGOMERY

Posted By: Von Stachon (email)
Date: 3/8/2007 at 15:12:35

OBITUARY

THOMAS SAMUEL "SAM" MONTGOMERY

Funeral services for Thomas Samuel "Sam" Montgomery, 75, of LeRoy, Minn., were held Friday morning, Dec. 19 at the First Presbyterian Church in LeRoy. Interment was in Buckingham Cemetery, rural Traer, where a graveside service was held Friday afternoon. Sam died at the Meadow Manor nursing home in Grand Meadow, Minn., early Wednesday, Dec. 17,1997,of cancer.

The Rev. Steve Elderbrock officiated the funeral service in LeRoy, and Alice Kemps was organist for the funeral service. Honorary casket bearers were John Grass, Louis Hungerford, Vernon Iverson, Bill Morse, Bob Orum, Harold Rich and Tom Sikkink. Active casket bearers were Larry Draper, Lee Draper, Joe Lunning, Mike Lunning, Daniel Montgomery and Randy Montgomery. The Rev. Rick Vesely of the Traer United Presbylerian Church officiated at the graveside service in Traer.

Sam Montgomery was born at Traer, IA., Dec. 10, 1922, the son of Robert and Eliza (McKinley) Montgomery. Sam attended Geneseo School until his senior year, when Ihe family moved to the Dinsdale area. He graduated from Dinsdale in 1940. After gradualion he was employed by Rath Packing Company in Walerloo.

On Jan. 20, 1943 he was inducted inlo Ihe Army Air Corps, and was stationed in England until January of 1946. He was a Staff Sergeant in the Air Corps. While in the service he earned four overseas service bars, one service stripe, one European African Middle Easlern ribbon, a Good Conduct Medal, and a World War II Viclory Medal.

After the service, Sam worked at .John Deere Tractor Works in Waterloo for four years, then began farming in partnership with Raymond Stahr, first near Readlyn, then near Lime Springs for eight years, before they moved to live near LeRoy. The two men retired from farming in 1987 after farming together for 40 years.

Sam enjoyed fishing and visiting with friends. He was a member of the American Legion.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents, and by one sister, Eliza Ann Wilimek. Sam is survived by one brother, Robert, of Valley Mills, Texas; one sister, Margaret Young of Traer; and several nieces and nephews. along with his longtime farming partner, Raymond Stahr of LeRoy, Minn.