- Alvin Tommerup
A funeral service for Alvin Stanley Tommerup will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday April 25, 2009 at
Plentywood Lutheran Church in Plentywood. Pastors Ron Martin-Dent and Barbara Westhoff will
officiate, with burial at Emmaus Cemetery, near Westby. A luncheon will be served at Plentywood
Lutheran Church in the basement fellowship hall, following interment. Alvin, 92, died of natural
causes in his home in Plentywood on Wednesday, April the 22nd.
Alvin was born April 10, 1917 in a sod house on the Tommerup Homestead south of Westby,
Montana. He was born to Danish immigrants, Peter and Christine (Jensen) Tommerup. He was
raised on the homestead and went to a country school through the 8th grade.
As times were difficult in the 30's, he and his brother Henry traveled the western states working odd
jobs. During his time in central Washington he met Betty Thrapp in 1939. They dated until he
joined the Army in 1941. Betty wrote him every week until he came home at the end of WWII. They
married on October 21, 1945. Alvin spent four years fighting for our country. He saw action in the
Aleutian Islands and Philippines and was awarded the Silver Star, two Bronze service stars, the
Purple Heart and several other awards. Alvin loved farming and his outdoors. For several years he
owned an orchard in Washington and farmed in Montana also.
His children remember how tall he was, his strength, gentleness, and his huge hands! Those hands were an astonishment to
whomever met him! Grandpa would play baseball on his knees so the grandchildren could “put him out.” He adored his grandchildren
and great grandchildren. Dad enjoyed a good game of cards and was still winning until he was bedridden.
Survivors include his seven children: Judy (Mike) Colbert of Townsend, Montana; Randy (Helen) of Dillon, Montana; Terry (Cathy) of
Worland, Wyoming; Jeff (Connie) of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Brian (Angie), Doug (Joan) and Ellen Sue Colenso, all of Plentywood. Also
surviving are fifteen grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, a brother John of Westby, Montana, his sisters Sylvia (Ron) Phillips of
Puyallup, Washington, triplet sisters, Minnie Mayta of Ventura, California, Margaret Moore of Camarilla, California and Myrtle Fagnant of
Kemmer, Wyoming. He is also survived by two brothers- in- law, Wayne (Gayle) Thrapp of Okanogan, Washington and Jim (Eleanor)
Thrapp of Colbert, Washington and a sister-in-law Ora Mackie of Missoula.
Preceding him in death were his beloved wife, Betty, his parents, brothers Melvin, Henry, Clarence, and sisters, Anna, Emma and Martha,
two grand-daughters and one great grandson.
Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood is in charge of arrangements.
| . . . . in Memory of . . . . |
| 1917 - 2009 |
Remembering Alvin
I suppose like condolere I have family to Alvin through his mother Bodil Kirstine my grandmother Mary is the sister to her.
I have now mastered my Chart here and surely like to hear from family over there in the U.S. Sincerely, Erna
Erna
Danmark
ernapedersen@privat.dk
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I have now mastered my Chart here and surely like to hear from family over there in the U.S. Sincerely, Erna
Erna
Danmark
ernapedersen@privat.dk
...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................