After a ten-year battle with dementia Thomas Alan Escott, 73, of Rapid City, SD, passed away on September 19, 2021.

He grew up in Faith, SD, and spent his childhood days on the farm. A rebel through and through Tom forged the date on his military entry documents in order to enlist at 15 years old. He served in the Navy and the Army and loved to talk about his time spent seeing the world.

In his younger years, Tom was a crane operator, a musician, and a carpenter. He loved to play poker, strum his guitar, and read. He was humble and kind and quick with a joke. He spent many years restoring antiques and had the reputation for being able to fix anything. His greatest accomplishment was his family. He deeply loved his 4 children, his 4 grandsons and his wife of 31 years. He and his wife made quite the home out of their little fixer upper and for years the kids, grandkids, and even people passing by loved to see the Christmas lights and decorations that were sure to be there every single year.

He is survived by his sister, Judy (Dave) Grant; wife, Connie Escott (her loving family, Mike (Sandy) Combs and kids); his children, John Escott, Doug Escott, and Amy (Tony) Klock; and his grandchildren, Masin, Mathew, Dylan, and Miles; and great-grandson, Oliver.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Earl (Mabel) Escott; his sister, Jan Paris; and his precious little boy, Charlie.

Committal services will be 9:30 a.m. on Friday, September 24, 2021, at Black Hills National Cemetery with a Celebration of Life to follow at 11:30 a.m. at the VFW 420 Main Street Rapid City.