Remembering Vern Thomas

Vernon J. Thomas, retired bursar, died Oct. 6, 2012, Valley Eldercare Center, Grand Forks.  He was 87.

Vernon James Thomas was born Feb. 5, 1925, in Riverside Calif., to Bernard and Claire (Burnett) Thomas. In 1934 the family moved to Minneapolis, where he graduated from DeLaSalle High School in 1942. Following his high school graduation, he joined the United States Army in 1943 where he served in the Philippines and Japan.

Vernon attended the University of North Dakota. On Oct. 7, 1950, he married Murial Sorenson.  He worked for Firestone, Industrial Credit and was a volunteer firefighter while in Minneapolis.

He moved with his family to East Grand Forks in 1963.  He was named bursar at the University of North Dakota in 1970, a position he held until he retired in 1990. His wife, Muriel, was an account technician with plant Services.  She died in 1996. On June 18, 1999 he married Irene Campbell.

He is survived by his wife Irene of East Grand Forks; children, Ann (Keith) Brundin of Sioux Falls, S.D, Stephen (Jacqueline) Thomas of East Grand Forks, and Mary (Michael) Burbach of St. Paul, Minn.; sister, Patricia (Richard) Astrup of Fergus Falls, Minn.; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Muriel; two sons, Michael and Douglas Thomas along with granddaughter Sarah Thomas.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be given to Sacred Heart Development Fund.

Funeral Service: 10 a.m.  Thursday, Oct. 11, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 200 3rd St. NW, East Grand Forks.  Interment: Resurrection Cemetery, East Grand Forks.