Thomas "Tommy" James Lathrop

Thomas “Tommy” James Lathrop, 85, of Great Falls, passed away on Sunday, January 21, 2018. A funeral liturgy will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Ann’s Cathedral. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Tommy was born on January 28, 1932 in St. Paul, Minnesota to William and Helen (Larson) Lathrop. He graduated from high school in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He attended builder’s school at Port Hueneme, California. Tom enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1951, serving for four years before being honorably discharged. After his enlistment, he obtained a job with the Great Northern Railroad in Grand Forks and was transferred to Great Falls, Montana in 1965, which later became Burlington Northern. He worked as a machinist and round house foreman until retiring in 1985 on disability. He kept busy with charitable activities after his retirement including, St. Vincent de Paul and the Deer Lodge prison ministry. He also enjoyed making toys for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He married Karen Stahl on July 19, 1953 at Spruce Hill Lutheran Church, in Alexandria, Minnesota. Tom is survived by his wife, Karen; son Michael; daughters Lori Lathrop, Anita Bueling, and Susan Lathrop; brother Richard; and five grandsons and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Phil; and sister Judy.