Henry “Hank” Fredrich Thies, 82, of Great Falls, passed away November 21st , 2014. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, November 29th , 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at the Rose Room Chapel of Croxford Funeral Home. Graveside Services with be held Monday, December 1st, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. Military Honors will be provided by the Malmstrom AFB Honor Guard and VFW Post 1087.

Hank was born to Henry and Agnus Thies in New York City on May 17th, 1932 .

Shortly after High School he joined the Army serving for 2 years including a tour in Korea. He then re-enlisted to serve 22 years in the United States Air Force serving a second tour in the Korean War. While stationed at Malmstrom AFB, he met and married Joyce Klock from Cascade, Mt on May 22, 1954 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Great Falls, Mt. From this union they were blessed with 4 children.

Upon retiring from the Air Force in 1971 after being stationed in Japan, Delaware, Germany and South Dakota, they returned to Cascade with their four children. While in Cascade Hank owned several businesses and worked different careers before retiring for good. In 1988 they moved to Great Falls, MT.

Hank was an avid hobbyist. He enjoyed gun and rock collecting, drawing and jewelry making. He frequently could be found sharing his drawings and jewelry with family, friends, waitresses and his nurses. A die-hard Yankee fan Hank often passed out baseball cards from his collection at the Great Falls Giants, Dodgers and White-Sox games. He shared his love of gun collecting and hunting with his sons and grandsons. Hank shared his passion with others by serving as a MT FW&P’s Hunter Safety Instructor for over 35 years. Hank later volunteered at Malmstrom AFB and Law Enforcement museums in Great Falls. Another of Hank’s passions was calling Bingo for several organizations including the Moose Lodge where he was an active member. He was especially proud to achieve and serve as one of the “Top Five” Moose Legion Ambassadors in the entire nationwide fraternity.

Survivors of Hank’s are his wife Joyce; a younger brother Charlie (Joyce) of New Jersey; sons Henry (Bonnie) of Cut Bank, Mt, Ray (Denny) of Missoula, Bryan (Anita) of Great Falls; daughter Valorie of Great Falls; six grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.

Those who have preceded Hank in death include his parents, Henry and Agnus, and a younger brother, Raymond.