J Thomas Lofland died on Sunday, January 21, 2024, due to complications from ALS.

Tom was born in Hugoton, Kansas, on September 20, 1951, to Bonny (Marcellus) and Lloyd Lofland. He grew up in Perryton, Texas, with siblings Sue, Jim, Kip, and Chris. He was active in Boy Scouts in the Texas Panhandle for many years and participated in summer camps and a canoe trip to Canada. He eventually earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Tom played football and enjoyed his woodworking classes in high school. He graduated from Perryton High School in 1970. While in high school he worked for the local feedlot and the family business moving houses and other buildings.

After high school, Tom attended South Plains College (Levelland, Texas) before marrying Sharon Williams in 1972. They lived in Salt Lake City, Utah, where Tom attended the University of Utah. He earned his bachelor's degree in sociology. They then moved to Miles City, Montana, where Tom began his career as a probation and parole officer for the state of Montana. Tom and Sharon's daughter Jessica was born in 1977.

Tom worked in Helena and Missoula before settling in Billings, Montana, to complete his master's degree at Eastern Montana College (now MSU-Billings). He began working as a counselor and his work took him to Sheridan, Casper, and Rawlins, Wyoming, and Portland, Texas. He also spent a year as a counselor on the US Navy base in Djibouti, Africa. He later took a position as a counselor at the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp and Boot Camp in Newcastle, Wyoming. He retired once in 2018 and returned to work part-time until 2021 when he retired for good.

In 2009, Tom met his wife, Janette MacNeill. They resided in Spearfish, South Dakota, and married in 2017. They enjoyed traveling the world, especially for his favorite hobby of SCUBA diving. They also enjoyed riding his motorcycle through the Black Hills, snow skiing, canoeing, and hiking with their dog Gerty. Tom wasn't one to sit still and could be found working in the yard or on the house with his cat Alley close by. When he was inside, he enjoyed a good book, coffee, NASCAR races, and British television.

Tom is survived by his wife Janette of Spearfish, SD, daughter Jessica of Miles City, MT, and sister Chris Scroggs of Rockport, TX. He is also survived by Keeley MacNeill (Vegard) of Lincoln, NE, and Dan MacNeill, of San Francisco, CA, uncle Charles Marcellus of Liberal, KS, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is predeceased by his parents, sister Sue Lyon, and brothers Jim and Kip Lofland, and nephews Tim and Rick Lyon and Barton Scroggs.

At Tom's request, there will not be a service. His ashes will be buried at sea as part of the Eternal Reefs program. Please consider a contribution in Tom's memory to the ALS Association at als.org or the Reef Ball Foundation at reefballfoundation.org.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com