Arden Thomas

Arden Thomas

Arden Thomas, 84, died on Nov. 29, 2010, in Boulder City, Nev. after heart surgery and a stroke.

She was born Arden Marie Randall on Jan. 5, 1926, in Bruneau, Idaho, to Ruth E. and George W. Randall. She grew up there with her older brother, Darrell, younger sister, Mildred, younger brother, Owen, and many cousins.

She was a good student and graduated high school early to move to Boise, Idaho, and attend Boise Junior College. There she met dashing Army Air Corps Lt. Russell Arthur Thomas. They had a whirlwind wartime romance and were married Jan. 11, 1945, in Bruneau. She and Russ had a long and happy marriage of 50-plus years.

Arden was very involved in her church and community.

With persistence and determination she received a Social Work degree from the University of Nevada Las Vegas when she was 56.

She is survived by five children, daughter Lenore Thomas (Henry Wong) of Sacramento, Calif., daughter Adelle Thomas and granddaughter Guenevere Thomas of Boise, son Ross (Mary Alice) and grandson Ian of Nampa, Idaho, son Randall Thomas of Salmon, Idaho, and son R. Roy Thomas and granddaughter Lelia Thomas of Boulder City, Nev. She is also survived by her sister, Milly Porter of Bruneau, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers, and granddaughter Alexandria (Ross and Mary Alice).

A service will be held at 10 a.m. on May 28 at St. James Episcopal Church, Mountain Home, ID (315 N. 3rd East St., corner of American Legion and N. 3rd East), to be followed by an internment of ashes at Bruneau Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a luncheon in Arden's honor at the Bruneau American Legion Hall after the cemetery service.