Thomas E. Allen, age 91 of Huron, SD passed away Thursday, December 29, 2016 at SunQuest Healthcare Center.

Cremation has taken place and his memorial service will be at 10:30 am on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at American Lutheran Church in Huron. Inurnment with military honors by the US Navy and Rushmore VFW Post #1273 will be at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD at a later date.

Tom was born July 24, 1925 at Winona, MN to James and Mary (Randall) Allen.  He was raised in the Huron area, graduating from Huron High School in 1943.  Tom entered the US Navy on July 14, 1943 and completed basic training at the Naval Training Station in Farragut, Idaho; he then attended radar school in San Diego, CA. Over the next three years, Tom served as a Radarman 3rd Class on the aircraft carrier USS Marcus Island (CVE-77) in the Pacific Theater during WWII. His ship endured attacks from Japanese aircraft while it participated in many battles in the South Pacific against the Japanese.  He was honorably discharged on February 17, 1946.  He married Dorothy Decker in June 1946 at Livingston, MT.  He then attended Huron College until 1947 and began working at State Radio Communications. He then joined the Huron Police Department in 1950 and in 1952 he began a 33-year career with Chicago Northwestern Railroad, where he retired as the chief clerk in the master mechanic's office.  Tom married Vivian Knapp Thrash on October 1, 1985.

After retiring, Tom enjoyed volunteering for meals on wheels, CLC preschool, and camping.  He also enjoyed riding motorcycle with his first wife Dorothy and pulling their two-wheeled trailer with a tent and sleeping bags.  After his marriage to Vivian, Tom bought a new big camper and together, Tom and Vivian traveled to all 50 states in 10 years.  Over the years, they had seven campers (sometimes two at a time), a fold down camper pulled by a car, and a big camper pulled by their pickup for longer trips.  Their longest trip was really a great trip; 28 days in a motor coach traveling to Alaska and then flying to Hawaii!!  Tom and Vivian really enjoyed their numerous trips to the Black Hills, which were too many to count.

Tom was also good at playing cards and enjoyed teaching his grandchildren to play.  He spent 30 years trying to teach Vivian cribbage.  Maybe his favorite was pinochle, two handed with Vivian or four handed with friends.  Tom enjoyed working with wood, projects to improve the house, making toys for grandchildren or bird houses for Vivian.  He was a 40 member of the Huron Rovers Camping Club, VFW, Noon Lions and the American Lutheran Church since 1955.

Tom is survived by his wife Vivian, Huron; children; Martie (Larry) Wineger, Thomas (Toni) Allen, Jr; step-children, Doug Thrash, Susan Thrash, Joanne Phelan, Pete Thrash, Paul Thrash; 11 grandchildren;  23 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, James; sister, Florine; first wife, Dorothy in 1985 and daughter, Linda in 1966.