Tom Hiestand, Jr.

Tom passed March 25, 2008, after a long struggle with his heart and lungs working hard to keep up with his creative and active mind. He was born in Tulsa, Okla., Sept. 9, 1927. He graduated from Natrona High School in Casper, Wyo., in 1945. He received his bachelor of science in Agriculture at the University of Wyoming in 1950. He was a veteran of the Navy. On April 1, 1950, he married Margaret Ellen Potter. They made their home in Superior, Mont., where Tom was the Montana County Agricultural Agent from 1950-55. He was involved in the local county fairs and 4-H. They moved to Littleton in 1955, where Tom was vice president of European Auto Parts and Tires Inc. for 20 years. From 1969-1976, Tom was a member of the Arapahoe County Fair Board. President of the Little Britches Youth Association and he assisted with the local Fair and Rodeo. He was a National Little Britches Executive Board member. In 1976, they moved to Kaycee, Wyo., and Tom and Margaret lived their dream of ranching. They bought the American Ranch and renamed it the Double H Ranch and raised registered longhorn cattle and registered quarter horses. He was president of the Wyoming Longhorn Breeders Association. From 1978-1989, he was superintendent of the Longhorn Cattle show at the Wyoming State Fair in Douglas, Wyo. They moved to Evansville, and Tom became a VISTA volunteer working with the Central Wyoming Food Coalition and Community Garden Project for low income families. After his heart attack, they moved to Mack's Inn, Idaho. He made antler art and chandeliers. After Margaret's death, he moved to Fort Collins, and lived with his daughter and son-in-law and their family. He loved the mountains and moved to Grand Lake, where he met Pat Jones. They traveled and worked together for five years until his strength failed to keep up and he moved back in with Mark and Linda. He thought very highly of the ICU staff at Poudre Valley Hospital and the Golden Peaks Nursing Home. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Linda and Mark Howes; three grandsons their wives; and four great-grandchildren, Shawn and Heather Howes, Breann and Casey Cody and Lara Howes, Shyanne and Zane and Heath Howes. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. April 1 at the Faith Community Lutheran Church, 9775 Hwy 66, Longmont, CO 80504 West of Hwy 287. He will be remembered by all as a good man, always happy, who loved his family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Thomas Hiestand may be made to the Faith Community Church or Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort Collins, CO 80524. Friends may send condolences to the family at www.bohlenderfuneralchapel.com .