Berhow, Thomas Ray (1948-2004)

BERHOW, LAMPING, PAULSEN, FRIESENBORG, WESSELS, BRACKEY DANIEL, OLSON, WILSON

Posted By: Jim Berhow (email)
Date: 1/18/2010 at 11:44:52

Thomas Ray Berhow
Dec. 1 1948 - Nov. 15, 2004

BUFFALO CENTER: Funeral services for Thomas Ray Berhow, 55, of Buffalo Center will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Buffalo Center with Mr. Perry Aalgaard and the Rev. Paul Haugen officiating.

Interment will be in Olena Mound Cemetery in Buffalo Center with military honors by the VFW/American Legion Honor Guard.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Winter Funeral Home in Buffalo Center and one hour prior to services Saturday at the church.

Thomas Ray Berhow, the son of Roy and Annie (Lamping) Berhow, was born Dec. 1 1948, in Forest City. He was bapitized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.

Tom as a 1967 graduate of Buffalo Center High School. After graduation, he inlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving his country proudly. He was on the aircraft carrier the U.S.S. Coral Sea and was one of many who fought off the coast of Vietnaam for the freedom of others.

On Jan. 27, 1973 he was united in marriage to Connie Jo Paulsen at East Side Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, S. D.

Tom Worked at Winnebago Industries in Forest City; for Loren Aukes Fertilizer of Buffalo Center; a short time for Bud Florence of Thompson, and also for his cousin, Gary Friesenborg, on the farm and for his brother, Don, and the Rawhide Ranch in Wellman, Iowa.
He also drove for Denny Wessels of Buffalo Center, a few other trucking companies and most recently L.B. Transport of Buffalo Center.

Tom loved the trucking and missed it so much, including all his trucking buddies and all those he met on the road. He has many near-accidents, sadly witnessed some and contended with bad drivers. He, like other truckers, endured long hours and all kinds of weather, sometimes hauling LP to keep us folks warm, He hauled everything from fuel to sugar. He never complained. He came home tired and quiet, just content to go to the pool hall and play cards or pool with his friends, or be home on his computer.

Tom loved the land and was content on a tractor, a combine or whatever he was asked to do.

Tom enjoyed his fishing trips with his brothers, a circle of love no one else could enter.

Tom was wlll-liked and loved for his gentle nature, sense of humor and laughter.

Tom's two little granddaughters were his "girls". They love their "Papa" and won't be the same without him. He was so deeply hurt knowing he would not see them grow up. He so much wanted to see his grandson, Austin, before he passed on, but he was too ill. He thought of him so much near his end.

Tom passed on Monday (Nov. 15, 2004) at his home in Buffalo Center at the age of 55 with those he loved after a years battle with cancer.

Tom is survived by his wife, Connie Berhow, of Buffalo Center, his children, Jon Berhow of Clear Lake; Mindy Brackey of Clear Lake, and Marcus Berhow of Clear Lake. His grandchildren, Reagan Brackey and Monroe Brackey of Clear Lake, and Austin Daniel of Tennessee; his brothers, Don Berhow of Buffalo Center, Robert Berhow and his wife, Linda, of Miller; Jim Berhow and his wife, Janean, of Ames; and Randy Berhow and his wife, Mary, of Watertown, Minn.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents; his step-father, Clarence Olson; his brother, Cleo Berhow; his sister, Shirley Wilson and her husband, Cal, and his sister-in-law, Myrtle Berhow.