PIERRE, SD – Carol Ann Thomas, 78, of Pierre, SD died Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at Aurora-Brule Care & Rehab in White Lake, SD.

Visitation will be from 10-11am on Monday, September 15, 2025 at Community Bible Church in Pierre.

Funeral service will be 11am on Monday, September 15, 2025 at the church.

Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Pierre.

At age 78, Carol Zibell Thomas of Pierre, SD passed away peacefully after battling almost ten years of lung cancer on September 10, 2025. Carol was born in Valentine, Nebraska to Charles and Marge Zibell on November 18, 1946. She resided in Winner, SD with her parents and younger siblings until she was nine years old. The family moved to a farm south of Draper, SD in 1955, where Carol attended grade school at South Star, then graduated from Pierre High School in 1964.

Carol Zibell married Ron Thomas in 1965. They were blessed with three children: David Thomas of Beresford, SD; Ronda Williams of Pierre, SD; and Stephanie Thomas of Pierre, SD. The family moved from Ft. Pierre, SD to Sioux Falls, SD in 1974. As her children grew into adulthood, Carol discovered she had a knack for computer programming and started a website business with her son. She moved to Pierre, SD in 2010, working at Oahe Child Development Center until her retirement. She attended Community Bible Church and traveled with her Bible Study group to Israel in 2014. For someone with a fear of water, traveling across the ocean to walk on the same path as her savior, Jesus Christ, was a highlight of her life. Carol was later baptized in the Missouri River and held a weekly Bible Study in her home with close friends.

Carol adopted her beloved chihuahua Cesar, who quickly became her favorite child. She loved quilting, painting, gardening, riding her bike and was addicted to baking sour dough bread. Her laugh was infectious, and her smile was bright. Family and friends were very important to her, and she always had a pot of coffee on for anyone that stopped by to visit. She experienced joy when surrounded by her siblings, laughing and telling stories. Laughter was her love language.

Carol is survived by her three children, eight grandchildren – Britney, Charlie, Shani, Bailey, Dawson, Jesse, Talia, and Tessa; five great-grandchildren; two brothers, Chuck (Rayetta) Zibell and Tim (Sandy) Zibell; and two sisters, LeEtta (Carl) Shaffner and Charlene (Gary) Shepherd.

Carol was preceded in death and reunited in Heaven with her parents, her older brother, Charles Zibell, and her cherished companion, Cesar.

Arrangements are with Isburg Funeral Chapel of Pierre.

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