Richard Benjamin Thomas, 83, longtime Minot attorney died on Thursday, August 11, 2016 in his home following cancer.

Richard was born on February 28, 1933, in Minot to Ben and Lydia (Quist) Thomas. He was reared in Minot, attended Sunnyside Elementary School, graduated from Minot High School in 1951, attended Minot State University for two years, and graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1957. While in school he was a member of various athletic teams especially baseball, was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and worked during the summer months for the Great Northern Railroad.

Following his graduation from law school he served in the U.S. Air Force with the Judge Advocate (JAG) in Alaska for four years. Richard was once married to Marjorie Luedke. Following his honorable discharge from the Air Force he returned to Minot where he was elected Ward County States Attorney and served for fourteen years in that position. He transitioned into private practice, and his son Robert joined the firm in 1986.

Richard married Grace Schultz on November 2, 1974 in Bismarck. They had made their home in Minot. Grace died on February 17, 1999.

Richard was a member of the Ward County and North Dakota Bar Associations and the Minot Masonic Lodge and Shrine organizations, and was among the most senior attorneys still practicing in North Dakota.

He was a former member of the Presbyterian Church and a contributor to Thomas and Somerville Field at the Hoeven Baseball Park in Minot.

Richard is survived by his children: Bill Thomas of Rice Lake, WI, Robert (Patti) Thomas of Minot, Barb (Will) Combs of Benecia, CA, and Ben (Gwen) Thomas of Fargo; grandchildren: Eric, Alli, Andy, Nicole and Truman; sister-in-law: Lorraine Thomas of Minot, brother-in-law: Billy Poe in Ellisville, MO and several nieces, nephews and cousins, and many friends and colleagues including his Secretary of 30 years Cindy Martin, and his friend and caregiver GG Brandt.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, step-mother Pearl Nichol Thomas, wife Grace; daughter Laura Beth Thomas in 1972; brother: John Thomas; sisters: Margaret (Jay) Fauchald and Marian Poe.

Celebration of the Life of Richard Thomas: Thursday, August 18, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. in Cornerstone Presbyterian Church - Minot.
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park Minot.
Visitation: Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the Minot Public School Foundation.