Thomas “Tom” Foster Cline, 75

Thomas “Tom” Foster Cline, 75

Thomas “Tom” Foster Cline, 75, passed away suddenly in Elgin, North Dakota, on March 11, 2022.

Tom was born Feb. 20, 1947, in Boulder, Colorado, to Ken and Jean (Foster) Cline. He was raised in Boulder with an older brother, Ken Jr., and a younger brother, Steve (deceased).

As a boy he grew up working on the family trout farm, Cline Trout Farms. He was also an avid baseball player and an active Boy Scout throughout his youth. Tom graduated from Boulder High School in 1965 and continued his education at Colorado State University (CSU), graduating in 1969 with a B.S. in Fisheries Biology. Tom expanded his education at CSU by obtaining a M.S. in Fish Pathology and Disease.

Tom married Helen (Evans) in December of 1971 in Gunnison, CO. From this union, two sons were born, Thomas Jr. and Dean.

In 1969 Tom was in the ROTC and continued his military service when he enlisted in the USAF in 1971 and was stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, MT, as a Missile Launch Officer.

Tom had a great love of knowledge and a hunger to always learn more. While stationed at Malmstrom AFB, he obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Montana State University. To further expand his desire to learn, he volunteered at a veterinary clinic near Great Falls; this is where Tom decided that he should try his hand at veterinary medicine. He was accepted into the CSU-College of

Veterinary Medicine and graduated with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1978. His military career continued until June 1994, when he retired from the USAF as a Major.

Tom worked in Sidney, MT, and Wheatland, WY, before building and starting his own veterinary practice in Carson, ND, in 1980. He owned and operated Grant County Veterinary Service until 1998 when he left private practice to become an Assistant State Veterinarian for South Dakota. Tom retired from the State of South Dakota in 2008.

Since Tom was always expanding his knowledge base, when his boys started to participate in Range Judging, Tom decided he would learn as well, and even competed in the adult division—and did very well. He kept up on the new developments in the veterinary profession, even after he retired. He would often email or talk to Dean about some new vaccine, drug or procedure he read about. There was always something to learn, and you can bet that Tom was trying to learn about it.

In retirement, Tom would spend his time somewhere between Carson, ND, Pierre, SD, Valentine, NE, or Bridgeport, NE. He was a family man to the core; he loved and cherished his wife, sons, and especially his 3 granddaughters. Tom and Helen would make multiple trips to Bridgeport to watch the granddaughters play volleyball or basketball, or to get a hug from his 3 girls and do some custom artwork for them. Most games were also available on the internet, so when Tom wasn’t at the games, he would watch them on the computer; usually yelling and cheering louder than when at the actual games.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Ken and Jean, and younger brother, Steve.

Tom is survived by his wife, Helen, of 51 years; son Thomas Jr. (Jodi) of Pierre, SD; son Dean (Holly) of Bridgeport, NE; 3 granddaughters: Ellie, Megan and Riley of Bridgeport, NE; and his oldest brother, Ken (Becky) Cline of Longmont, CO.

Per Tom’s request, cremation has taken place. A community gathering will be held in Carson, ND, at the Grant County Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 25, 2022 from 12:00-3:00 p.m. MT. Internment will take place on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at 11:30 MT at the Black Hills National Cemetery, with full military honors by the Ellsworth Air Force Base Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to: Tom Cline Memorial, PO Box 851, Pierre, SD, 57501. Funds will be distributed at a later date to charities that Tom believed in.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com.

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