Thomas Nils Ochsner died suddenly on October 2^, 2020 in Aberdeen, SD when a train collided with the trailer on the grain truck he was driving. He was rescued from the truck and taken to Avera St. Luke’s Hospital, but he died shortly thereafter. Tom’s life was characterized by his unwavering faith in one day meeting his Savior face to face, which comforts his family greatly.

 

Tom was born in Eureka, SD, in 1954 on April Fools’ Day, a fact he enjoyed (and made use of) throughout his life. He grew up with his parents and 3 siblings on a farm near Herreid, SD where he raised lambs and was active in 4-H. He graduated from Herreid High School, Class of 1972. While a Yellowjacket athlete, he was a basketball player and earned medals at the SD State Track Meet. After graduating from the South Dakota School of Mines in 1976 with a degree in Mining Engineering, he took several engineering jobs before landing in San Antonio, TX. He met Bonnie, the love of his life who became his wife a week before Christmas in 1981. He never tired of telling the story of how they met and married, and part of that story is he warned Bonnie that she was marrying a farmer at heart. Thus, she wasn’t entirely surprised when Tom said he wanted to take over the farm after having followed his engineering work through Nevada and New Mexico and back to Texas. They moved to Herreid from Texas with their two children in June of 1992. He was active in his church and community while his children grew up there; limited examples include serving on the school board and as a church elder. He farmed there until 2008 when he again took up engineering in Riverton, WY. He once again took up farming in 2017 when he and Bonnie relocated to Aberdeen. The past three years he was a valued helper of his close friend and cousin, Todd Ochsner, during planting and harvesting season. He had a deep sense of clarity and vitality when he was working outdoors, and he valued the autonomy of farming. He loved everything about cattle, closely following livestock reports and zestfully writing meticulous notes in his idiosyncratic handwriting.

 

His life was characterized above all by his extraordinary capacity for unequivocal friendship, to him as natural as breathing. He was the friend of the friendless, encircling the outsider with his warmth, compassion, storytelling, joviality, occasional bossiness, and his wealth of fishing rods. He was perceptive, but also created a sense of belonging and inclusion in his active world by instinct, emboldening his children and others by example. Around him, people felt that they belonged, no matter where else they didn’t belong. He will be sorely missed by the expansive network of people he befriended.

 

He is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, Bonnie; two children, Sarah (Silvio Reichmuth) Ochsner and Jordan (Haruna Miyagawa) Ochsner; two siblings, Robert (Sue) Ochsner and Kristi Ochsner; one granddaughter, Alva Reichmuth; one sister-in-law, Veronica Lachappelle; eight nieces, and one nephew.

 

He was preceded in death by his father, Elmer, on October 19, 1991; His mother, Darlene, on June 12, 2020; sister, Nancy DeVries on November 26, 2015; In-laws, Eugene Wagner on November 14, 1990, Mary Helen Wagner on April 23, 1991, and Robert Lachappelle on October 9, 2014.

 

 

Private funeral services will be at First Reformed Church, Herreid. The service will be led by Rev. Hank Bowen and Rev. Cody Swichtenberg. Musicians will be Angie Swichtenberg and Tom’s daughter, Sarah. Vocal selections will be “I Am Sure I Shall See the Goodness of the Lord”, “God is my Shepherd”, “Be Thou My Vision”, and “How Firm A Foundation”. Casketbearers will be Tom’s brother-in-law, Kerry DeVries; and second cousins—Jacob Ochsner, Matthew Ochsner, Adam Ochsner, Erin Ochsner, and Laura Ochsner.

 

The funeral will be livestreamed on the Lien Family Funeral Care Facebook page and be available at this website Saturday evening. The public is invited to graveside services at 12 noon Friday, October 9, 2020 at Friedens Heinz Cemetery. (Official Address 31366 101^st St., Eureka, SD 57437; Coming from Eureka: From Hwy 10 westbound, turn north/right onto 271. After Artas there are two curves in the road; a little less than a mile past the second curve, turn west/left onto the Zeeland Road (101^st St.), drive 3.5 miles and the cemetery is on your left; Coming from Herreid: Heading north on Hwy 83, a little less than 5.5 miles past the Herreid Livestock Market turn east/right onto the Zeeland Road (101^st St.), drive 7.5 miles and the cemetery is on your right. Coming from Linton: Heading south on Hwy 83, 1 mile after crossing the ND/SD border turn left/east onto the Zeeland Road (101^st St.), drive 7.5 miles and the cemetery is on your right.)

 

 

1. Add to favourites
2. Report abuse