Tom was born May 27, 1953, in Mitchell, SD, to John and Marie Jarding and lived his early years on his parent's farm in Alexandria. His family moved to Ethan, SD, for several years before moving to Mitchell, where Tom attended Notre Dame High School before transferring to Mitchell Senior High School after Notre Dame closed its doors in 1970. Tom graduated from Mitchell High School in 1971. After high school, Tom attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD.

In 1985, Tom married Norma Crosby. Tom and Norma spent much of their lives in California before moving to Utah where they lived until they moved to Hot Springs, SD, in 2005.

Diagnosed with a congenital heart defect as a teenager, Tom was told he would never live to see his twentieth birthday. Although his heart condition was always present in his life, Tom lived a full and fascinating life continuing to beat the odds and defy doctor's warnings to the day he died - six days following his sixty-third birthday. Despite his medical condition, Tom never complained but rather relished every day of his life. He was always quick to offer support to someone in need and he fully understood the responsibility to fight for the least among us. His intellect was deep and expansive, his wit was substantial, and his readiness to laugh and smile was contagious.

Thomas Joseph Jarding, 63, Hot Springs, passed away June 2, 2016, while in hospice care in Rapid City.

Among his survivors are his stepson, Lynn Wirth, Layton, Utah; his grandchildren, Aleyssa and Danyail, both of Layton, Utah; his sisters, Susan Wingo and Elaine Verschoor of Boise, Idaho; his sister, Bette Wilkinson of Rapid City; and his brothers, John Jarding and Steve Jarding both of Rapid City, SD.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Marie Jarding; his wife Norma; his brother, Walt Jarding; and his sister, Mary Walker.

Funeral services are pending at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis, SD.