Thomas J. Tescher

Thomas Jerome Tescher, 82, saddled his last horse and rode to a better place on Sept. 25, 2008. Tom was born on Jan. 24, 1926 the seventh of 15 children of Matt and Antoinette Tescher of Sentinel Butte, ND. On June 20, 1946, he married his sweetheart Lorraine Pendleton. Dad had the good sense to marry a good woman. With love, faith, and determination, they stayed together for 62 years. He loved and respected our mother and expected the same from us. They ranched together in the Badlands and raised 10 kids. Yes, he was a good saddle bronc rider but to us he was simply a great dad. His greatest virtue was his honesty and he taught it by example. He was a quiet spoken, unassuming man who chose his words carefully. He was wise in his advice, slow to offer it unless asked. He had the uncanny ability to think before he spoke. He was also quick witted. He enjoyed a good laugh. Dad had huge hardworking hands which he used for a tender touch and he had beautiful penmanship. Shaking hands with him was like grabbing a rock. He taught us to have faith in Jesus Christ, to pray the rosary together and to go to church on Sunday morning. He enjoyed bringing in the first crocus, loved a great berry patch, was so tickled when he found a cluster of bittersweet, and dad always cut our cedar Christmas trees. By his example Dad showed us it was good to be passionate - be it about straight fences, softball, team roping, auction sales, a good fight, a tough game of poker or enjoying a cold beer. He can't be accused of teaching the finer points of dancing, he didn't know any. For six straight years, he finished the prorodeo season in the top 15 saddle bronc standings. When he qualified for the 1960 NFR he declined the honor when they told him he was required to be there for a Christmas day press conference. He chose instead to celebrate Christmas with his family. Dad was the resident expert on the wild horses in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Medora. He served on many county boards. He was a board member and the president of the Medora Grazing Association. He was a PRCA gold card holder, and a North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame Inductee. He helped start Home on the Range Champions Ride Rodeo. Dad you were a cowboy. Thanks for being one of the good guys. Tom is survived by his wife Lorraine. They have 10 children; Bill (Jocelyn) of Mandan; Carol (Val) Obrigewitch, Sentinel Butte; Ted (Kay), Medora; Don (Ebba), Sheridan, WY; Becky (Pete) Robison, Huntley, MT; Doug (Julie), Medora; Beth (Kevin) Clyde, Medora; Perry (Laurie), Medora; Teresa (Mark) Voll, Sidney, MT; and Emily (Doug) Johnston, Velva. He is also survived by one brother and four sisters: Alvin (Betty) Tescher, Bismarck; Cecilia Rutledge, Sun City, Arizona; Joan Kittelson, Beach; Dona (Jim) Lowman, Fairfield; and Alice (John) Meginnes, St. Paris, Ohio. And brother-in-laws Al Lang and Nick Weinberger, and sister-in-law Loretta Tescher, Beach His 22 grandchildren, Loren, Kim, Shy Tessa, Dusty, Kyle, Mona, Jenny, Matt, Travis, Jake, Abby, Katie, Keri, Sam, Valerie, Anna, Tom, Mary, Ellie Lou, Pendleton and Rye. 12 great-grandchildren, Lance, Seth, Taylor, Shyln, Taylen, Vallie, Gavin, Reggie, Jake, Ryan, Addy and Kailee. Visitation will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday, Sept. 28 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Beach. Join us for a celebration of Tom's life beginning with a rosary on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Medora Community Center with wake following. Mass of Christian Burial will be at the Medora Community Center on Monday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at the Sentinel Butte Cemetery. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Beach is entrusted with arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to Home on the Range, 16351 I 94, Sentinel Butte, ND 58654.

Thomas J. Tescher

January 24, 1946 - September 25, 2008

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Thomas J. Tescher

January 24, 1946 - September 25, 2008

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support