John (Yonko) Thomson, 97

John (Yonko) Thomson, 97

John (Yonko) Thomson, 97, passed away peacefully at his home in Anaconda, MT on September 10, 2025.

John was born June 16, 1928, the third of four children to Alexander (Scottie) Thomson and Ann (Laslovich) Thomson. The family lived in a small house on Ash Street in the Goosetown area of Anaconda near many family relatives and friends. He attended St. Peter’s school from first grade through high school graduation. Following graduation, John attended Carroll College in Helena, MT on a football scholarship before leaving to join the Air Force where he served for four years, much of that time at Fairchild Airforce Base in Spokane, WA. He then returned to Anaconda, where he lived for the remainder of his life. He worked at the Anaconda smelter for a short time before joining the Deer Lodge County Road Department, where he worked as a construction equipment operator and then city-county road supervisor until retiring in 1989.

On August 6, 1960, John married Laura Ward who had moved to Anaconda as a school teacher in 1957. John and Laura had four children, Jim, Bob, Pat, and Suz. With his strong desire to be outdoors, the family spent much time together camping, fishing, skiing, hiking, backpacking, berry picking, etc. A strong desire to be outdoors is an understatement as John spent much time flyfishing and hiking to mountain lakes in the summer, bird hunting and big game hunting in the fall, ice fishing and skiing in the winter, and doing some early hiking and fishing in the spring. Bowling was the one sport he did inside as he participated in a weekly league for many years. He also enjoyed sports events closely following football, basketball, and baseball at the local, state, and national level. An avid reader for much of his life, he was knowledgeable on many subjects, especially health, the environment, and the outdoors. Retirement allowed John to do more of what he enjoyed with he and Laura spending summers fishing and adventuring in Alaska for over 30 years where they made numerous new friends and had family visit while there.

John was someone who was really fun to be around. He had a great smile, laugh, and sense of humor. He was an active member of the Anaconda Catholic Community where he consistently attended mass and worked bereavement lunches. He was affectionally called Papa, Yonko, or Jack by the entire family. John was preceded in death by his parents noted earlier, and siblings, Gene (Shaker) Thomson, Mary Matosich, and Annabelle Sladich. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Laura, his children Jim (Tricia) of Redmond, WA, Bob (Trina) of Kalispell, Pat (Amy) of Butte, and Susanne (Mark) Dauenhauer of Butte. His ten grandchildren Aubree (John) Hopper, Cierra (Marshall) Metcalf, Marki (Jesse) Bouffiou, Lexi Dauenhauer (Alex Cadieux), Ryan Thomson (Hannah Duerst), Patrick Thomson, Jack Thomson, Kaylee (Ryan) Buswell, Addie Thomson, and Isla Thomson. Four great grandchildren, Broadus Buswell, Ryka Buswell, Peyton Hopper, and Parker Hopper. He also has numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins having been part of a large Anaconda family.

Services will be held September 17, 2025 with family accepting friends and relatives beginning at 9:30 am with a funeral mass starting at 10:30 am at Holy Family Catholic Church in Anaconda, MT.  Burial will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery with a luncheon at Holy Family Church to follow.  Funeral arrangements are under the care of Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home in Butte.

Donations can be made to the Anaconda Catholic Community, Anaconda Restoration Association, or the donor’s choice.

“Laku noć Yonko”