Thomas John Rothschiller

Thomas John Rothschiller, 84, will be laid to rest with full military honors at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. He will be joining brothers, Francis and Bud; brother-in-law, Leonard Schmidt and sister Betty. Following the military ceremony family and friends will gather at Fort Lincoln State Park and release the remainder of his ashes into the river where the Heart meets the Missouri River, per his request. 

Thomas was born Nov. 19, 1936 to Frank and Elizabeth Rothschiller in Mandan.  He grew up in a family of 13 with three brothers and seven sisters. After high school, Thomas joined the US Army, Spec. 3rd Class., Germany, 1954-56. Returning from the service, he married Margaret Faye Állen on Oct. 4. 1958.  He attended Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif., and Bismarck Junior College, Bismarck.  He finished his education receiving Bachelor of Science and Bachelor Arts Degrees from University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, in 1962.  Following his graduation, Thomas moved to Carrington, where he started Rothschiller Accounting, a Certified Public Accounting business in 1962.

Thomas enjoyed the Carrington Jaycees serving as local Secretary 1962 and Director 1963-64.  In 1965 he became treasure of the North Dakota State Jaycees moving to Vice President in 1965-1966. Thomas also enjoyed the Carrington chamber of commerce serving as director, vice president and later president in 1966. Thomas had many business interests including Rothschiller accounting, a local café and gas station, and Carrington livestock, Selling these interests by the late 70s,  

Fishing in northern Canada in the late 70s, Thomas and family saw a construction methods of cordwood homes and trappers cabins still standing in remote areas of Canada, turning his interests towards construction and starting Log End Homes. Thomas (remarried 1971) and family moved to Montana in the mid-80s, to pursue this type of construction, setting up a manufacturing plant and packaging plant. Thomas enjoyed fishing the Montana lakes and streams eventually buying property on Lake Hebgen where he and family built a house.

Thomas returned home to Bismarck from Bozeman, Mont., in the late-90s. Working as an accountant for Weisz and Sons Construction and the Bismarck Presbyterian Church.  He spent many summer weekends fishing on the Missouri River and at Robb’s Lake Sakakawea house. Thomas enjoyed traveling with his good friends Floyd and Sheila Robb to New Orleans, Montana, Arizona and deep-sea fishing in Mexico.    

He is survived by his sisters, Loretta, Angie, Geraldine and Rita; brother, James Rothschiller; two sons, David and Mathew Rothschiller; daughter, Sarah Summerford; step-children, Christopher Beach, Stephen Beach, Tanya Keller and Pamela Flach; grandsons, Raymond, David Isaac, Zachary Rothschiller, Maddox Summerford and Derek Letander;  granddaughters, Miranda, Tasha and Ania Rothschiller, and Rachel and Adessa Summerford; great-grandsons, Elijah Rothschiller, Ethan and Michael Letander; and great-granddaughters Kyauna Rothschiller.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Faye; son, Thomas John Jr.; twin granddaughters, Tanya Lynn and Tara May; brothers, Francis and Richard; and sisters, Beatrice, Betty and Mary.

Thomas had a great sense of humor. He also had a real passion was fishing and he loved to fish every chance he could. Any creak, river, lake, ocean or sea he would have a fishing pole in his hands.        

Tight Lines Thomas!