Roy G. Bigwood

Roy G. Bigwood, age 98, of St. Thomas, North Dakota, passed away Friday, February 9, 2024 at his home near St. Thomas.

Roy G. Bigwood was born August 21, 1925 on the family farm near St. Thomas, North Dakota, the son of the late William and Alta (Young) Bigwood.  He attended and graduated from St. Thomas High School in 1943.  After his schooling he began farming with his family until he was inducted into the U.S. Army on November 7, 1950.  Roy served in Germany during the Korean Conflict as a Communications Chief in Company A, 17th Armored Engineer Battalion, Second Armored Division.  He was honorably discharged on October 31, 1952 and returned to St. Thomas.  Roy was united in marriage to Letitia Dickson on June 21, 1956 at the Hoople Methodist Church.  The couple made their home on the family farm where Roy farmed and they raised their three children.  Letitia passed away July 1, 1980.  Roy was united in marriage to Karen Angus on June 26, 1981 at the Grafton Federated Church.  The couple welcomed two more children to their family.  Roy continued to farm and attempted to retire twice but ran the combine on his 90th birthday, just before his birthday party.

He was a member of the St. Thomas United Methodist Church and served on many church boards and offices.  He served on the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association and helped form American Crystal Sugar Coop. He served on the St. Thomas School Board, the Polar Communications Board, St. Thomas Booster Club, the Lutheran Sunset Board and several other boards.    Roy loved to spend time with his family.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, serving the community and camping and traveling with his family.

Roy is survived by his wife, Karen Bigwood, St. Thomas, ND; his children:  Connie (Curtis) Strand, Stewart, MN; Rick (Susan) Bigwood, St. Thomas, ND; Alan (Sue) Bigwood, Cavalier, ND; David (Linzi) Bigwood, Louisville, KY; Heather Bigwood, Concordia, KS; his grandchildren:  Nathan (Lauri) Strand, Kayla (Doug) Skramstad, Chad (Val) Bigwood, Michael (Brenna) Bigwood, Austin (Cassidy) Bigwood, Nicholas Bigwood, Harper Bigwood, Senora Filipiak, Meladen Champion; six great grandchildren; his sister, Betty Wolfgram, Grand Forks, ND.  Several nieces and nephews also survive.  He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Letitia and nine siblings.

Funeral Services will be Saturday, February 17, 2024 at 2:00 P.M. at the St. Thomas United Methodist Church, St. Thomas, ND.  Visitation will be Friday from 5-7 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton.  Friends may also call at the church on Saturday for one hour prior to the service.  Military Rites will be provided by the St. Thomas American Legion Post #168 and the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard. Inurnment will be at the St. Thomas City Cemetery, St. Thomas, ND in the spring.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Thomas United Methodist Church, St. Thomas Fire Hall or Hospice of the Red River Valley.