Tom White

James Thomas White was born on November 14, 1942 in Willmar, Minnesota to James and Inez (Gustafson) White. He grew up in Willmar where he attended Willmar grade school and graduated from Willmar High School in 1960. As a young boy, Tom enjoyed golfing, hunting, reading and playing pool. He attended South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD before serving in the United States Army. Tom served from September of 1961 to September of 1964 including 13 months in Korea as part of the reconstruction effort. Tom also attended Willmar Technical College for two years. Tom married Betty Grahn on May 1, 1966 at the Methodist Church in Willmar, Minnesota and to this union three children were born: Kathy, Kris and Andy. Tom and Betty raised their family in Brooklyn Center, MN, Plymouth, MN and Elkhorn, NE before retiring in New London, MN where they built their retirement home on Lake Florida. After ten years, they moved to Arlington, Nebraska to be closer to their grandchildren. Tom spent most of his working career at Northwestern Bell/ US West serving in many positions. He started in sales, soon was sales manager, then Director of Human Resources, Director of Labor Relations and Director of Staffing for the 14 states making up US West. Tom retired in 1991 and while enjoying retirement, he realized he needed something more to do. He started working for Frontier Directory, a phone book in central/southern Minnesota, selling yellow page advertisement and again became a very successful professional. Through the years, Tom and Betty were also involved in antique businesses, being partners in business located in Walnut, IA and Gretna, NE. Tom enjoyed spending time finding hidden treasures at auctions and working to restore furniture back to their original beauty. Tom enjoyed antiquing, bowling, boating, hunting, cars, and golfing. Most important to Tom was his family especially his seven grandchildren. They enjoyed family vacations to Estes Park, CO for many years. Tom was active in the Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star, United Way fundraising and a member of the Board of Directors for Metro Tech Community College. He was an honest and moral man who took great pleasure in watching his children succeed. Tom was a fan of Nebraska football, chocolate chip cookies and Johnny's Italian Steakhouse. He was a hardworking and driven man with no tolerance for incompetence or laziness. Tom tended to his yard meticulously and had a special place in his heart for his dogs. Tom passed away on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at the Lakeside Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 69 years, 2 months and 25 days. He was preceded in death by his parents James and Inez. Tom is survived by his wife Betty; daughters and sons-in-laws Kathy and Keith McCoy of Omaha and Kris and Brad Plambeck of Elkhorn; son and daughter-in-law Andy and Wendy of Elkhorn; grandchildren Sean and Delaney McCoy, Jacob and Carson Plambeck and Hailey, Jack and Lindsey White; brother and sister-in-law Doug and Marsha White of Rockford, MN. White, Tom age 69 of Arlington, NE Survived by his wife Betty; son and daughter-in-law Andy and Wendy of Elkhorn; daughters and sons-in-law Cathy and Keith McCoy of Omaha and Kris and Brad Plambeck of Elkhorn; grandchildren Hailey, Jack and Lindsey White, Sean and Delaney McCoy and Jacob and Carson Plambeck; brother and sister-in-law Doug and Marsha White of Rockford, MN. Visitation Sunday noon to 7:30 PM with family receiving friends from 6 to 7:30 at the funeral home. Funeral Monday 10:30 AM at Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkhorn. Interment Prospect Hill Cemetery. Memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association. Condolences to www.reichmuthfuneralhomes.com Reichmuth Funeral Home 21901 W. Maple Rd. 402-289-2222

Tom White

November 14, 1942 - February 8, 2012