SHARON ANN LOHNES-THOMAS

Sharon Ann Lohnes-Thomas, 64 of St. Michael, ND passed away at her home on Wednesday, March 12, 2014. A Wake Service for Sharon will be held at the Tekakwitha Center, St. Michael, ND on Thursday, March 20, 2014 beginning at 5:00 p.m. The procession to St. Michael will leave at 4:00 p.m. Thursday from Wal-Mart. Mass of the Resurrection will be on Friday, March 20, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church with Fr. Brian Moen celebrating the Mass. Sharon will be laid to rest in St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery Sharon Ann Lohnes-Thomas was born on April 8, 1949 at the Fort Totten Hospital, to Patrick Sherman and Marie Lohnes. Sharon attended school at Little Flower School in St. Michael and Calvary Square in Fort Totten. In later years she continued her education and graduated from Maddock, North Dakota. Sharon lived in Crow Hill, raising her family up until 1980. She moved to Montana and worked in several places, including A&S Industries in Poplar, MT and as a Teacher’s Aide in a school in Culbertson, MT. In 1990, they returned to the Spirit Lake Nation and she became a certified Home Care Provider in the Lake Region area. She also was employed in Fort Totten at Dakota Tribal Industries and at the Family Circle Tipi in various positions. Her last employment was with the Spirit Lake Casino and Resort as a Shuttle Driver, a job she loved. Due to becoming diabetic she had to resign. She was on dialysis for nearly 14 years. Sharon was a very strong, caring, compassionate, giving person. Throughout her lifetime and the duration of dealing with her illness and dialysis she always put her needs aside to accommodate and give a helping hand to anyone in need. She loved her four daughters and all of her grandchildren. Sharon enjoyed and cherished moments of cooking and baking, gardening, canning and preserving, traveling and driving. She loved food and would go to certain events just to taste test; like RibFest, bringing the grandchildren to carnivals and circuses. Reading Danielle Steele books which she also collected, was an all time favorite pastime. She loved to listen to her most adored country singer, George Strait. Her lifetime dream was fulfilled two years ago when she finally got to see him in concert. Sharon loved to cook and prepare meals for company, even if it was just for tea, coffee or sweet rolls. She liked to tell many stories of when she was a teenager in Maddock School, trips and places she traveled to, stories about growing up with her grandparents, her Uncle Richard and sisters whom all meant a lot to her. Sharon enjoyed her road trips and she went on many in her lifetime. She enjoyed gambling and Bingo before her illness. Her favorite TV shows were “Price Is Right”, “Jeopardy”, “Dancing With The Stars” and the Food Network Channel. She deeply loved all her fourteen grandchildren. Lynnia Bustos, Chris Bustos Jr., Sheyenne Bustos, Charles Bjergaard, Skye Thomas, Kiara Brown, Xander Thomas, Stephen Brown II, Patience Brown, Cadence Morin, Trustess Morin, Anneleise Morin, Dreamys Morin and Breezon Morin and one great granddaughter, Jaelynn Bustos. She enjoyed making gift/goodie bags for all of them on any occasion. Our Mother will be dearly missed by all of us. Her goody bags will be missed. Her advice and company will be missed. She is survived by her sisters Debbie (Clarence Houle) Adams, St. Michael, Linda (James Shaw) LaCroix, Fargo and Brenda Monson, Fargo; brothers John Sherman, St. Michael, Robert LaCroix, Florida, James LaCroix, California, Timothy LaCroix, Seattle, WA, Vincent LaCroix, Fargo and David LaCroix, Wyoming; daughters Michelle (Chris Bustos) Thomas, Denise (Floyd) Bjergaard, Faye Thomas, Joni Thomas and adopted daughter Malissa Denne. She was preceded in death by grandparents; mother Marie Lohnes-LaCroix; uncles Richard Lohnes, George Lohnes, Leonard Lohnes, Roger Alberts, Allen Alberts and Joseph Alberts; aunts Emmaline Lohnes and Linda Alberts; sister Janice Belgarde; nephew Donald Belgarde Jr.; daughter Kari Ann Thomas and two granddaughters Honey Lee Brown and Neveah Angelique “Angel” Bustos. Pallbearers are Lois Leben, Linda Adams, Donnette Whitebear, Carol Bemer, Selma Cavanaugh and Leah Black. Active Pallbearers are Dana Lohnes, Craig Brown, Chris Bustos, Randy Leben, Ronald Lohnes and Lane Adams. Honorary Pallbearers: Keith and Lois Leben Family, Sally Cavanaugh Family, Leah Black Family, Demus McDonald Family, Tony and Vina McDonald, Vincent Greyhorn, Robert Greywater, Lenny RedTomahawk, Casper Demarrias, Stella Cavanaugh, Justin Cavanaugh, Estella Cavanaugh, Kenny and Florestine Dunn, Bud and FeFe Shaw, Ross and Patty LaCroix, Joe LaCroix, Rita Leaf, Doug and Darlene Geller, Alvina Jackson, Duane Jackson and Adeline Blueshield, Terry and Dallas Welch, Buddy and Gloria Alberts, Duane Nelson Family, Virginia Lancelotta, Marlin WhiteBear, Eunice Greywater, Dave Lohnes Family, Esther Abraham Family, Sam (Marilyn) Merrick Family, Helena Littleghost, Marie Baker Yvonne Thompson Family, John Wells, Curtis and Kristi Black, Altru Dialysis Nurses and Patients. If we forgot to mention anyone it was not intentional during this difficult time.