Thomas Eckstein

R Thomas Eckstein 76, born on May 16th 1946, passed away March 25th 2023 in Conrad.

Funeral services will be Monday, April 3, at 10:00am at Conrad Baptist Church.

Thomas graduated from Conrad High School in 1963. He attended and graduated with an associate’s degree in Ag technology from MSU Bozeman. He then enlisted in the Air Force and served for four years. After his military service he moved back to Ledger, MT to take over the family farm until his retirement in 2015.

Thomas’s true love in life was Jesus Christ and his Christian faith. He loved to share the salvation and love of Jesus Christ with people in his life.

His other true passion was the NHRA drag racing and drag racing in general. Thomas with friends and family would make the annual trip to California for the NHRA Winternationals. In the beginning he would even drive his Chevelle from Montana to California for the races, taking extra valve springs for possible roadside repairs. Thomas was a true car guy, evident by his car collection and two race cars he built.

Thomas was one of God’s special earthly servants. Thomas had the incredible ability to see people’s needs and hurts. He would always take time to offer advice, mentoring and prayer. Thomas would never want anything in return “Just pay it forward” he would say. One would need a library full of books to do justice to Tom’s kindness.

Thomas was greatly loved and will be deeply missed; he had such a loving smile and always had a sparkle in his eye. As his health declined God put special people in his life. Some of those special people are Dennis and Dawn Stokes, Coby and Bethany Bennett, Crystal Poluntnik, Marilyn Copenhaver, Deena Breckinridge and the entire staff at Logan Health. For those people Thomas was eternally grateful.

Thomas was preceded in death by his Father Russell Eckstein, Mother Bonnie Eckstein and his life long friend Dick Preputin.

Thomas is survived by his sisters Lynn (Ron) Gains, Laurel (Lance) Nordstrom, niece Christine Deschamps, nephews Nathan Nordstrom and Dylan Nordstrom and many great nieces and nephews.