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March 4, 1951-Sept. 24, 2026
Velva
Curtis Thom, 75, Velva formerly of Minot, died Thursday, September 24, 2026, in a Velva care center.
Curtis Allan Thom was born March 4, 1951 to Clifford C. and Ann P. (Moen) Thom in Minot, N. D., the first of four children. He lived for two and a half years on Park Street, moving to the McDaniel farm north of Velva. There growing up with his brothers and sister on what became the family farm when his parents purchased the land and buildings in 1960.
The first five years of his education were at Simcoe and North Prairie No. 1 rural schools, completing his grade school and high school education at Velva after the rural schools were consolidated. While in High School Curtis participated in local, regional and state science fairs and exhibited at the 1969 International Science Fair in Detroit, Ml. He graduated in the spring of 1969 and with a great interest in electronics, he entered the School of Electrical Engineering at North Dakota State University at Fargo that Fall.
Graduating in the summer of 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Curtis went to work in the Design Division at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Bremerton, WA. Finding himself in a very different world than farming, he soon learned the ins and outs of how Navy ships work and spent the next eleven years working with fellow engineers (several of which were also farm boys) designing and modifying shipboard command, control and communication systems. Curtis particularly enjoyed working with mechanics and technicians from the “build us something that will do this” stage to training the officers and sailors on how to use the new equipment.
After eleven years, the world of computers and networks was just opening up and Curtis had an opportunity to get in on the ground floor, so he transferred to the Design Division Computer Center where he managed the hardware and computer room design. Over the next twenty-two years his responsibilities grew to include two of the shipyard networks. During this time, he accumulated a number of awards and citations for outstanding service and reached the level of GS-12 Computer Engineer.
After thirty-three very enjoyable years of government service, of which he said he would do it again, Curtis decided to retire and return to North Dakota. Living in the Pacific Northwest is one of the greatest places to live in the whole country and after you get used to all the rain, life is good. He spent many days camping with friends in the mountains and exploring many miles of logging roads on a small motorcycle. Many weekends were spent doing this, but there were times when we looked at each other through rainy, drippy, damp clothes and said, “tell me how much fun we are having.” There is nothing like camping in the mountains though. So, leaving behind a multitude of good friends, Curtis moved to Minot in June of 2006 to be close to his parents and the land of his birth.
Curtis spent the next six years having good times with his parents and family and making many good memories. During this time, Curtis was elected president of the Stenkjaer Lutheran Cemetery Association and along with the other board members transitioned the ownership of the cemetery properties to a Not-for-Profit Corp so that it would continue under good management for the future. He continued with his family to help care for his parents until their passing in late 2013 and 2014.
Ever enjoying wood working with his hands, he built four doll houses for his great nieces and erector sets for his great nephews. The doll houses won the admiration of many with some asking if they could move in.
Next came model railroading and many electronics projects. Above all of this was a lifelong love of the Lord Jesus, his savior and many hours of Bible learning and teaching which added great depth of meaning to life and hope for eternity.
Curtis was preceded in death by his parents and great nephew Dylan Jensen.
Curtis is survived by his brothers David (Bonnie), Donald (Marsha) and sister Eileen (Bryan) Giese, Nephews Nolan Thom and Chris Giese and Lisa (Henning) Giese, Nieces Megan (Kyle) Krueger, Kendra (Nathan) Faa, Rachelle Putnam, along with great nieces Bria Thom, Anna Putnam, Reese Giese, and Emma Johnson and great nephews Ashton Thom, Ryan Giese, Reid Giese and Thomas Putnam.
Graveside Service: 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 5, 2026 at Stenkjaer Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Simcoe, ND.
Visitation: Sunday, October 4, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Velva, ND
Memorials are preferred to Souris Valley Care Center, Velva, ND.
Memories and condolences can be shared at www.thomasfamily funeralhome.com.
Published by The Minot Daily News, September 30, 2026.