Dr. Robert (Bob) Thom of Bowman, ND and Rancho Mirage, CA passed away at Vista Cove on February 17, 2018. He was 87 years old. Memorial Services for Dr. Thom will be on June 9th, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bowman United Methodist Church. Pastor Lisa Ahlness will officiate.

Bob was born on February 2, 1931, in Craik, Saskatchewan, to Charles and Edith (Brown) Thom. After graduating from high school, he earned a scholarship to McGill University in Montreal where he studied pre-med and then went on to attend their School of Medicine. He met Joan Booth in the McGill medical library where she was a librarian. They married in 1955, the same year Bob graduated from medical school. He finished his residency at Regina General Hospital in Saskatchewan, and then began his practice in Neepawa, Manitoba. In 1957, he moved his family to Bowman, ND, where he bought the Tri-State Clinic from Dr. Bob Goulding, and was later joined by his long-time partner Paul Ahlness.

Bob loved living in Bowman, loved the community, and ultimately practiced medicine there for nearly 35 years. He was dedicated to treating his patients in the community, and delivered many first and then second generation babies. In the early days, he made house calls, sometimes forced by the weather to travel by tractor or even by plane. Bob was board certified in both family practice and gerontology, and when he realized how many patients he was seeing with heart problems, he pursued additional studies and then created the Coronary Care Unit at St. Luke's Hospital. After retiring from full-time practice, he continued to fill in for doctors at clinics around North Dakota.

Bob was active in Bowman's Rotary Club, serving as president for a period. He was an avid skater, golfer, skier, and bowler, once bowling a near perfect game (299—so close). He often traveled with friends to Clear Lake, Manitoba and Scottsdale, AZ to golf. He never lost his love for farming, and enjoyed long drives out into the country to check out the fields. But one of his favorite things was to join the gang downtown at Gene's for breakfast and conversation, and then to take a coffee break at the Gateway for some more conversation. He and Joan also enjoyed dancing at the Flagstone any weekend they could.

Bob is survived by his wife Joan, of Bowman, ND; his children Patty Thom of Boston, MA, Brian (Julene) Thom of Louisville, CO, and Carol (Mohi Khairandish) Thom of Los Angeles, CA; two grandchildren, Bryce and Caelan Thom; niece Sharon Groen; and nephews Frank Lockyer, Bob Lockyer, Greg Lockyer, Larry Thom, and Michael Thom. He was preceded in death by his sister Pauline (Thom) Lockyer and his brother John Thom.

A memorial service for Bob will be held in Bowman, ND at a later date