John Thomas "Tommy" Udager was born December 28, 1930, to Ole and Alice (Hansen) Udager in Faith, SD, with the help of a midwife. He was baptized into the Bethel Lutheran Church in Faith. Tom was raised on the family ranch 16 miles west of town; attending grade school at the one room country school and high school in Faith. Tommy enlisted in the army and served in the Korean War from 1953-1954. After his honorable discharge from the army, he returned to the ranch where he raised horses, cattle, and sheep.

Tommy married Eva Lorraine Keegan on December 11, 1951, and to this union was born 4 children; Doug, Dan, Doyle, and Kristy. In 1973, the ranch was sold and Tom, with his family, moved to town and went into the trucking business. In 1978, Tom and Eva purchased the Jack & Jill Food Store in Faith, which they operated until 1988. After selling his trucks, he worked for several area ranchers till the time of his retirement in 2006.

He enjoyed fishing, rodeo, horses, and a good game of pinochle or pitch. He also enjoyed a good shot of Blackberry Brandy. At an early age, he enjoyed riding bareback broncs and later, team roping with his friend, Marvin Derflinger. At age 50, he decided to ride bulls in the old timer's rodeo.

Tommy passed away April 27, 2017, at the Ft. Meade VA Medical Center following a brief illness.

Thankful for having shared his life are his children, Doug of Jacksonville, FL, Dan (Brenda) of Sturgis, SD, Doyle (Deanne) of Buckeye, AZ, and Kristy (Jerry) Spencer of Faith, SD; sister, Helen Samuelson of Cheyenne, WY; brother, Melvin Udager of St. Maries, ID; ten grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Tommy was preceded in death by his wife, Eva in 1988; one daughter-in-law, Diane in 2007; his parents, Ole and Alice; brothers, Oscar in 1958 and Carl in 2011; sister, Diane in 2005; and one great-granddaughter, Josephine Grace Fees.

Graveside services will be Monday, May 8, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery with Pastor Connie Eichinger officiating.

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