Clemence "Clem" Thomas

Clemence “Clem” Thomas, 80, Bismarck, died April 21, 2017. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 noon Tuesday, April 25, at Church of the Ascension, 1825 S 3rd St., Bismarck, with Rev. Msgr. James Braaten officiating. Burial will be held at Mandan Union Cemetery, Mandan, ND. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm Monday, April 24, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 E. Divide Ave., Bismarck, where a vigil/rosary will begin at 7:00 pm. Clem was born in Old Kenel, SD, on January 30, 1937, the son of Philip Sr. and Emelia (Dauenhauer) Thomas. He was raised and attended St. Bernard’s Mission School, where his nickname was “Shorty Small” in Fort Yates, ND. He graduated from Fort Yates High School in 1957. Clem moved to Bismarck and married Kathleen Conner on September 16, 1961, in Dodge, ND. Clem and his friend, Darrel Heimbuck, owned the Exxon Fuel Station in Bismarck until 1978 when he went to work at Border States Electric. Clem retired in 2014 as head of the shipping department at Border States Electric. Clem was a devoted sports fan as long as it was the NY Yankees, the Green Bay Packers, and particularly the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He especially enjoyed his children’s and grandchildren’s events and activities; following Professional Bull Riding and playing pinochle. Clem is survived by his son, Doug Thomas, Bismarck; his daughters and sons-in-law, Connie (Perry) Baesler, Maple Grove, MN, and Donna (Kent) Mowder, Bismarck; seven grandchildren, Matt (Dawn) Thomas, Jake and Shea Thomas, Shane and Corey Baesler, Miranda (T.J.) Swisher, and Tyler (Jamie) Mowder; three great-grandchildren, McKenzie Swisher, Caleb Swisher, and Khrissi Cooper; his sisters, Mary Holzer, Bismarck, and Gertrude Vennes, Minot. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen; his brothers, John, Mark, and Philip Jr.; and his parents.