Kathleen Thomas

Kathleen Thomas,86, of Brookings, SD, formerly of Battle Lake, MN, died on Friday, September 19, 2025, at United Living Community in Brookings, SD.

Kathleen Kaye Flados was born April 27, 1939, in Britton, SD to Oris Morgan and Alma (Sjothun) Flados. She was the youngest of 5 girls.

Her younger years were spent in Rutland, ND, graduating from high school in 1957. She attended ND College of Science and Valley City State (ND), earning a Standard Teaching Certificate. In 1959 she taught 5th grade in Wyndemere, ND for 3 years. Kathleen went to Moorhead State (MN) and graduated with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education in 1963. She then taught 4th grade in Tacoma, WA for 1 school year.

On June 12, 1964, Kathleen Kaye Flados was united in marriage to James Thomas. They went to live in Huntsville, Alabama working for Boeing and NASA on the Saturn V rocket project, Jim as an Engineer and Kathleen as a Secretary. After moving back to Minnesota, they started a family. Neil was born in 1967 and Colleen in 1969. Neil married Susan Baynes in 1992, and Colleen married Ed Poeschl in 2000.

Her 9 Grandchildren were the light of her life. Morgan (Shannon) Thomas, Greeneville, TN; Spencer Thomas, Madison, SD; Olivia Poeschl, Scandia, MN; Deborah Thomas, Dallas, TX; Jade Poeschl, Scandia, MN; Aster Thomas, Brookings, SD; Cameron Thomas, Parkers Prairie, MN; Dagi Thomas, Parkers Prairie, MN; Josiah Thomas, Brookings, SD. Being able to hold her Great-Grandson, Simeon, was a special blessing.

After Jim passed away in 2005, Kathleen spent Winters in Mesa, AZ and Summers at Ottertail Lake. In 2020 she moved to Ottertail full time.

While in Arizona she enjoyed singing with the Village Voices musical group and while in Minnesota she sang with the Zion Lutheran Choir for many years.

She passed away peacefully on September 19, 2025 in Brookings, SD.

Preceding her in death were her husband of over 40 years, Jim; her parents Morgan and Alma Flados; her sisters Betty (Jim) Elphinstone, Marjorie (Arnold) Pankow, Doris (Carl) Olson, and Lois (Bob) Case.

Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September, 27, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church of Amor, with a visitation one hour prior to the service

Interment: 4:00 P.M., Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Lakeside Cemetery, Milnor, ND

Funeral arrangements are entrusted with the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Battle Lake.