Danny “Dan” John Thomas, 72, of Tulare, SD, passed away Thursday, March 31, 2022, at the Yuma Regional Medical Center in Yuma, AZ. Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:30 p.m., with family present, on Tuesday, April 12th, 2022, at Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield. A prayer service, followed by rosary lead by the Redfield Knights of Columbus will start at 7:30 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Redfield, with burial to follow at St. Bernard’s Catholic Cemetery. Lunch and fellowship will follow the committal service at the church fellowship hall.
Both the prayer service and Mass of Christian Burial will be live-streamed to the funeral home’s website, below Danny’s obituary. Hyke Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements (www.hykefuneralhome.com).
Danny was born December 15, 1949, to James and Audrey (Ford) Thomas in Huron, SD. He attended country school near Huron and graduated from Huron High School in 1968. He was one of seven children that worked diligently to help maintain the family dairy farm. After high school, he worked at Carlson’s Gas Station and Flannery Meat Processing, both in Huron.
He married Marsha Mees in July 1970. To their union, six children were born.
After Flannery’s closed, they moved to Frankfort, SD and Danny worked as a hired hand for Russ Hansen and Doug Christensen. He then went to work for South Dakota Wheat Growers in Redfield. He was known as “Dan the Sprayer Man.” He retired in 2015.
In 2004, he married Cindy (Roeber) Harford and became step-father to six additional children.
Dan had a passion for riding his motorcycle and was known to wipe frost off the seat to go to work. He also loved the great outdoors, hunting, fishing, and wintering in Arizona. He was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus. Danny was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He loved being a part of a big family, often hosting grandpa daycare.
He is survived by his wife of 17 years Cindy; children: Chad (Tara) Thomas of Clark, SD, Christopher Thomas of Doland, SD, Danielle (Edward) Maack of Aberdeen, SD, Joshua (Kayla Boomsma) Thomas of Aberdeen, Nicklaus (Laura) Thomas of Harrisburg, SD, and Micah Thomas of Redfield. He is also survived by his step-children: Elizabeth (Travis) Kohnen of Hitchcock, SD, Christopher Harford of Tulare, Adam (Amber) Harford of Tulare, Nathan (Amber) Harford of Grand Junction, CO, Timothy Harford of Pierre, SD, and David (Crystal) Harford of Tulare; as well as 36 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Dan’s siblings also survive him: Claire (Beverly) Thomas of Huron, Robert (Becky) Thomas of Huron, Pam (Scott) Winegar of Huron, Betty Thomas of Huron, Janey (Pat) Cronin of Huron, and LeRoy “Jay” (Beth Shaffner) Thomas of Huron.
Dan is preceded in death by his parents James and Audrey.
