Frances E. Thomas

Frances E. Thomas, 88, of Great Falls, passed away on Thursday, October 15, 2015 of natural causes.A celebration of life will be held on Monday, October 26, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Cascade Methodist Church. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.Frances was born on March 14, 1927 in Marion, South Dakota to Alice and Albert Thomas. In 1930 at the age of three, she moved to a small farm northeast of Wolf Point. For the next six years, she attended a one room country school. She graduated from Wolf Point High School in 1945, enrolling in the nursing program at Montana State College in Bozeman and Montana Deaconess School of Nursing in Great Falls after graduation. She graduated from both as a registered nurse after receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in 1950.She worked in pediatrics until she joined the US Air Force Nurses Corps in 1951. She served in many stateside and overseas assignments receiving the Bronze Star in Vietnam. She attained Command Flight Nurse Status and eventually retired from the Air Force at Malmstrom AFB in 1973 as a full bird Colonel.Frances retired to her beloved Montana, living on the banks of the Missouri in the Cascade area for the next 28 years. She enjoyed fishing, camping, traveling, reading, and gardening. She was a member of the Cascade Methodist Church, American Legion, and a sponsor member of the Association of Retired Air Force Nurses.Her diminished eyesight and health concerns brought her to Great Falls in 2001 where she took up residence at the Lodge Assisted Living Facility and finally, Bee Hive Homes. Though she lost her vision and her health, she never lost her love of family, country, and faith.Frances is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Norma and Dale Figgins; niece Jeanne Merrell; great and great-great-nieces; nephew; and cousins.Memorials in Frances name may be made to Cascade Methodist Youth Group Scholarship Fund, Cascade, MT 59421 or the Great Falls Rescue Mission, 326 2nd Ave S, Great Falls, MT 59405.