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Ross Devoe Thurston, 87, passed away in Midlothian TX, on March 14, 2016 after a very full life with his loving wife Gerry Cecil Mann Thurston by his side. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00am on July 1, 2016 at Croxford Funeral Home, 1307 Central Avenue, Great Falls, MT. All are welcome.

He was born February 23, 1929, at the Quail Farm in Hyde Park, Utah, to Ross D Thurston and Aletha Woolf Thurston. 

May 5, 1950 he married Rae Arta Swenson Smith.  They had four children and later divorced.  August 20, 1977, he married Gerry and together they raised her five children.

Ross was a hard worker all of his life and taught his children the value of a dollar and doing a good job.  He had his first job at age 13 working at the Union Pacific Railroad round house in Caliente, NV where he worked on the railroad equipment.  

He was a "Ross" of all trades: a mechanic, a milkman route supervisor for Rowland’s Dairy, a pilot and air field owner, a division manager for Clover Club Foods, a Reset Specialist for Red Baron Pizza and all around “Get ‘er done” kind of guy.

He loved to travel, dance, and spend time with his family.  In his later years he spent his summers in Montana and his winters in Texas.  

He had a gregarious personality with an infectious laugh and a warm smile.  He was headstrong, a joker and tender all at the same time. 

He was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandpa, a great grandpa and even a great-great grandpa. Those that knew him knew that family was his first priority.  He was blessed with a large family and was the proud patriarch of his clan. 

He is survived by his wife, Gerry Thurston; his children: Stephen (Viki) Thurston of Wolf Creek, MT, Kristina (Jim) Ellsworth of Great Falls, MT, Lonnie Thurston (Elaine Axtman) of Great Falls, MT, Larry Thurston of Great Falls, MT, Stephanie (Rolando) Garza of Midlothian, TX, Linda Barnett of Waco, TX, Phillip (Ellen) Barnett of Las Vegas, NV, Zane (Kristen) Swanson of Midlothian, TX; 27 Grandchildren; 38 Great grandchildren; 1 Great-great granddaughter; brothers, Arch Thurston and Ferris Thurston of UT.

Ross was preceded in death by his parents; first-wife Rae; sister, Katherine Hodson Herbert; daughter, Karla Miller; granddaughter, Shelly Thurston; & great-grandson, Kail Wane.  

In lieu of flowers he would want each of you to spend time with your family, hug them often and laugh as much as possible.

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