Thomas James Henderson, formerly of Scobey, Montana, sadly passed away on January 3, 2022, after a brief battle with cancer at the age of 88.
Tom was born on the family farm north of Madoc, Montana on June 2, 1933, to Margaret and Ernest Henderson. Tom graduated from Scobey High School in 1951. He married Darlene Tryan on November 25, 1952, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Flaxville, Montana. Together they lived on the Henderson family farm for about four years where he farmed and drove school bus. They moved to Scobey in 1956 when he became employed at Nemont Telephone Cooperative, Inc. In 1964 he became General Manager at the age of 31 and held that position until he retired on June 30, 1993, after 37 dedicated years of service.
During his tenure at Nemont, he was presented the National Telephone Cooperative Association (NTCA) Key Man Award, NTCA Management Achievement Award, NTCA Life Achievement Award (the highest award presented by NTCA to individuals who have earned this status). He was a leader in providing cellular telephone service in Montana, serving on boards of several cellular organizations. In the 1960s, Tom saw the need for complex data processing functions and he became one of the original organizers and later served as a director of the North Central Data Cooperative (NCDC). Also, in the 1960s, he was an original member of the Daniels County Development Board which was responsible for bringing dental and optometry services to the Daniels County community. In addition, he worked in several other aspects of rural development.
Tom led a group of cooperatives in an effort to purchase numerous rural Montana exchanges previously owned by Continental Telephone Company. This purchase led to Nemont's possession of its subsidiary, Project Telephone Company, in southeastern Montana.
Tom served as President of the Montana Telephone Association and was instrumental in the transition of the group from a small, mostly social organization, to a sophisticated association that excelled in lobbying, participated in regulatory proceedings, and provided a wide array of services to its members. He was also very active in the North Dakota Statewide organization since a portion of Nemont's service area was located in North Dakota.
He chaired a committee of independent telephone system managers that were pursuing an independent statewide fiber network capable of long-distance services, interactive video, and high-speed data. Working closely with Native Americans, the purpose was to network the schools and health care centers on Montana's seven reservations.
He worked closely with a group of eastern Montana cooperatives and the Deaconess Hospital in Billings to promote an interactive health care network. The purpose of the network was to demonstrate the positive impact of delivering specialized medical and mental health care services by video conferencing communities and decreasing transportation costs.
Tom, a steady, quiet-spoken, no-nonsense kind of guy, organized and was chairman of several independent telephone companies that arranged for the purchase of US West exchanges in Montana. It was because of this purchase that several companies, including Nemont, doubled in size. The purchase of these exchanges was a perfect way to complete his career in the telephone business. And in his words, it was his "state championship."
Tom served on several boards and organizations in the community as well as many national and state telephone boards and committees.
Tom is preceded in death by his parents; his four sisters: Eileen Naughton, Jean Parker, Patricia Sanborn, Jacqueline Cavanaugh; one brother: William Henderson; and, one grandson, Jase Henderson.
Tom is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Darlene (Tryan) Henderson, and his six children: Sherry (Greg) Neill of Billings, Larry (Del) Henderson of Scobey, Julie (Bob) Rux of Billings, Brad (Sherri) Henderson of Miles City, Lisa (Leo) Brady of Fairfield, and Jeffrey (Kevin Sonnichsen) Henderson of Seattle, Washington. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren: Kimberly (Roy) Guy of Laurel, Amy (Rick) Stumvoll of The Colony Texas, Sean (Tiffany Miller) Neill, Jennifer (Maggie) Neilson of Seattle Washington, Renzi (Greg) Horton of Great Falls, Kirbi (Morgan) Maus of Billings, Brady Henderson of Scobey, Demi Henderson (Shawn Tezak) of Columbus, Taylor (Scot) McKinney of Laurel, Jaylen (Teague Blome) Henderson of Miles City, Darbi (Sean) Courtney of Helena, and Trace (Emily) Brady of Billings. He is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren and one on the way.
The family would like to give special thanks to RiverStone Health Hospice for their exceptional care. We would also like to recognize, as honorary pallbearers, the employees of Nemont who worked alongside Tom during his tenure.
Funeral services will be held at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Billings at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, with a Vigil on Monday, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Bernard's Chapel. Honoring Tom's request, cremation took place at Heights Family Funeral Home & Crematory with a private family burial of ashes to be held at a later date at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Billings.
Memorials can be made to Daniels County Memorial Hospital in Scobey, RiverStone Health, or St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Billings.
Published by Heights Family Funeral Home & Crematory, Billings, MT on Friday, January 7, 2022
Tom was born on the family farm north of Madoc, Montana on June 2, 1933, to Margaret and Ernest Henderson. Tom graduated from Scobey High School in 1951. He married Darlene Tryan on November 25, 1952, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Flaxville, Montana. Together they lived on the Henderson family farm for about four years where he farmed and drove school bus. They moved to Scobey in 1956 when he became employed at Nemont Telephone Cooperative, Inc. In 1964 he became General Manager at the age of 31 and held that position until he retired on June 30, 1993, after 37 dedicated years of service.
During his tenure at Nemont, he was presented the National Telephone Cooperative Association (NTCA) Key Man Award, NTCA Management Achievement Award, NTCA Life Achievement Award (the highest award presented by NTCA to individuals who have earned this status). He was a leader in providing cellular telephone service in Montana, serving on boards of several cellular organizations. In the 1960s, Tom saw the need for complex data processing functions and he became one of the original organizers and later served as a director of the North Central Data Cooperative (NCDC). Also, in the 1960s, he was an original member of the Daniels County Development Board which was responsible for bringing dental and optometry services to the Daniels County community. In addition, he worked in several other aspects of rural development.
Tom led a group of cooperatives in an effort to purchase numerous rural Montana exchanges previously owned by Continental Telephone Company. This purchase led to Nemont's possession of its subsidiary, Project Telephone Company, in southeastern Montana.
Tom served as President of the Montana Telephone Association and was instrumental in the transition of the group from a small, mostly social organization, to a sophisticated association that excelled in lobbying, participated in regulatory proceedings, and provided a wide array of services to its members. He was also very active in the North Dakota Statewide organization since a portion of Nemont's service area was located in North Dakota.
He chaired a committee of independent telephone system managers that were pursuing an independent statewide fiber network capable of long-distance services, interactive video, and high-speed data. Working closely with Native Americans, the purpose was to network the schools and health care centers on Montana's seven reservations.
He worked closely with a group of eastern Montana cooperatives and the Deaconess Hospital in Billings to promote an interactive health care network. The purpose of the network was to demonstrate the positive impact of delivering specialized medical and mental health care services by video conferencing communities and decreasing transportation costs.
Tom, a steady, quiet-spoken, no-nonsense kind of guy, organized and was chairman of several independent telephone companies that arranged for the purchase of US West exchanges in Montana. It was because of this purchase that several companies, including Nemont, doubled in size. The purchase of these exchanges was a perfect way to complete his career in the telephone business. And in his words, it was his "state championship."
Tom served on several boards and organizations in the community as well as many national and state telephone boards and committees.
Tom is preceded in death by his parents; his four sisters: Eileen Naughton, Jean Parker, Patricia Sanborn, Jacqueline Cavanaugh; one brother: William Henderson; and, one grandson, Jase Henderson.
Tom is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Darlene (Tryan) Henderson, and his six children: Sherry (Greg) Neill of Billings, Larry (Del) Henderson of Scobey, Julie (Bob) Rux of Billings, Brad (Sherri) Henderson of Miles City, Lisa (Leo) Brady of Fairfield, and Jeffrey (Kevin Sonnichsen) Henderson of Seattle, Washington. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren: Kimberly (Roy) Guy of Laurel, Amy (Rick) Stumvoll of The Colony Texas, Sean (Tiffany Miller) Neill, Jennifer (Maggie) Neilson of Seattle Washington, Renzi (Greg) Horton of Great Falls, Kirbi (Morgan) Maus of Billings, Brady Henderson of Scobey, Demi Henderson (Shawn Tezak) of Columbus, Taylor (Scot) McKinney of Laurel, Jaylen (Teague Blome) Henderson of Miles City, Darbi (Sean) Courtney of Helena, and Trace (Emily) Brady of Billings. He is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren and one on the way.
The family would like to give special thanks to RiverStone Health Hospice for their exceptional care. We would also like to recognize, as honorary pallbearers, the employees of Nemont who worked alongside Tom during his tenure.
Funeral services will be held at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Billings at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, with a Vigil on Monday, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Bernard's Chapel. Honoring Tom's request, cremation took place at Heights Family Funeral Home & Crematory with a private family burial of ashes to be held at a later date at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Billings.
Memorials can be made to Daniels County Memorial Hospital in Scobey, RiverStone Health, or St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Billings.
Published by Heights Family Funeral Home & Crematory, Billings, MT on Friday, January 7, 2022
Thomas James Henderson, formerly of Scobey, Montana, sadly passed away on January 3, 2022, after a brief battle with cancer at the age of 88.
Tom was born on the family farm north of Madoc, Montana on June 2, 1933, to Margaret and Ernest Henderson. Tom graduated from Scobey High School in 1951. He married Darlene Tryan on November 25, 1952, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Flaxville, Montana. Together they lived on the Henderson family farm for about four years where he farmed and drove school bus. They moved to Scobey in 1956 when he became employed at Nemont Telephone Cooperative, Inc. In 1964 he became General Manager at the age of 31 and held that position until he retired on June 30, 1993, after 37 dedicated years of service.
During his tenure at Nemont, he was presented the National Telephone Cooperative Association (NTCA) Key Man Award, NTCA Management Achievement Award, NTCA Life Achievement Award (the highest award presented by NTCA to individuals who have earned this status). He was a leader in providing cellular telephone service in Montana, serving on boards of several cellular organizations. In the 1960s, Tom saw the need for complex data processing functions and he became one of the original organizers and later served as a director of the North Central Data Cooperative (NCDC). Also, in the 1960s, he was an original member of the Daniels County Development Board which was responsible for bringing dental and optometry services to the Daniels County community. In addition, he worked in several other aspects of rural development.
Tom led a group of cooperatives in an effort to purchase numerous rural Montana exchanges previously owned by Continental Telephone Company. This purchase led to Nemont's possession of its subsidiary, Project Telephone Company, in southeastern Montana.
Tom served as President of the Montana Telephone Association and was instrumental in the transition of the group from a small, mostly social organization, to a sophisticated association that excelled in lobbying, participated in regulatory proceedings, and provided a wide array of services to its members. He was also very active in the North Dakota Statewide organization since a portion of Nemont's service area was located in North Dakota.
He chaired a committee of independent telephone system managers that were pursuing an independent statewide fiber network capable of long-distance services, interactive video, and high-speed data. Working closely with Native Americans, the purpose was to network the schools and health care centers on Montana's seven reservations.
He worked closely with a group of eastern Montana cooperatives and the Deaconess Hospital in Billings to promote an interactive health care network. The purpose of the network was to demonstrate the positive impact of delivering specialized medical and mental health care services by video conferencing communities and decreasing transportation costs.
Tom, a steady, quiet-spoken, no-nonsense kind of guy, organized and was chairman of several independent telephone companies that arranged for the purchase of US West exchanges in Montana. It was because of this purchase that several companies, including Nemont, doubled in size. The purchase of these exchanges was a perfect way to complete his career in the telephone business. And in his words, it was his "state championship."
Tom served on several boards and organizations in the community as well as many national and state telephone boards and committees.
Tom is preceded in death by his parents; his four sisters: Eileen Naughton, Jean Parker, Patricia Sanborn, Jacqueline Cavanaugh; one brother: William Henderson; and, one grandson, Jase Henderson.
Tom is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Darlene (Tryan) Henderson, and his six children: Sherry (Greg) Neill of Billings, Larry (Del) Henderson of Scobey, Julie (Bob) Rux of Billings, Brad (Sherri) Henderson of Miles City, Lisa (Leo) Brady of Fairfield, and Jeffrey (Kevin Sonnichsen) Henderson of Seattle, Washington. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren: Kimberly (Roy) Guy of Laurel, Amy (Rick) Stumvoll of The Colony Texas, Sean (Tiffany Miller) Neill, Jennifer (Maggie) Neilson of Seattle Washington, Renzi (Greg) Horton of Great Falls, Kirbi (Morgan) Maus of Billings, Brady Henderson of Scobey, Demi Henderson (Shawn Tezak) of Columbus, Taylor (Scot) McKinney of Laurel, Jaylen (Teague Blome) Henderson of Miles City, Darbi (Sean) Courtney of Helena, and Trace (Emily) Brady of Billings. He is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren and one on the way.
The family would like to give special thanks to RiverStone Health Hospice for their exceptional care. We would also like to recognize, as honorary pallbearers, the employees of Nemont who worked alongside Tom during his tenure.
Funeral services will be held at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Billings at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, with a Vigil on Monday, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Bernard's Chapel. Honoring Tom's request, cremation took place at Heights Family Funeral Home & Crematory with a private family burial of ashes to be held at a later date at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Billings.
Memorials can be made to Daniels County Memorial Hospital in Scobey, RiverStone Health, or St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Billings.
Published by Heights Family Funeral Home & Crematory, Billings, MT on Friday, January 7, 2022
Tom was born on the family farm north of Madoc, Montana on June 2, 1933, to Margaret and Ernest Henderson. Tom graduated from Scobey High School in 1951. He married Darlene Tryan on November 25, 1952, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Flaxville, Montana. Together they lived on the Henderson family farm for about four years where he farmed and drove school bus. They moved to Scobey in 1956 when he became employed at Nemont Telephone Cooperative, Inc. In 1964 he became General Manager at the age of 31 and held that position until he retired on June 30, 1993, after 37 dedicated years of service.
During his tenure at Nemont, he was presented the National Telephone Cooperative Association (NTCA) Key Man Award, NTCA Management Achievement Award, NTCA Life Achievement Award (the highest award presented by NTCA to individuals who have earned this status). He was a leader in providing cellular telephone service in Montana, serving on boards of several cellular organizations. In the 1960s, Tom saw the need for complex data processing functions and he became one of the original organizers and later served as a director of the North Central Data Cooperative (NCDC). Also, in the 1960s, he was an original member of the Daniels County Development Board which was responsible for bringing dental and optometry services to the Daniels County community. In addition, he worked in several other aspects of rural development.
Tom led a group of cooperatives in an effort to purchase numerous rural Montana exchanges previously owned by Continental Telephone Company. This purchase led to Nemont's possession of its subsidiary, Project Telephone Company, in southeastern Montana.
Tom served as President of the Montana Telephone Association and was instrumental in the transition of the group from a small, mostly social organization, to a sophisticated association that excelled in lobbying, participated in regulatory proceedings, and provided a wide array of services to its members. He was also very active in the North Dakota Statewide organization since a portion of Nemont's service area was located in North Dakota.
He chaired a committee of independent telephone system managers that were pursuing an independent statewide fiber network capable of long-distance services, interactive video, and high-speed data. Working closely with Native Americans, the purpose was to network the schools and health care centers on Montana's seven reservations.
He worked closely with a group of eastern Montana cooperatives and the Deaconess Hospital in Billings to promote an interactive health care network. The purpose of the network was to demonstrate the positive impact of delivering specialized medical and mental health care services by video conferencing communities and decreasing transportation costs.
Tom, a steady, quiet-spoken, no-nonsense kind of guy, organized and was chairman of several independent telephone companies that arranged for the purchase of US West exchanges in Montana. It was because of this purchase that several companies, including Nemont, doubled in size. The purchase of these exchanges was a perfect way to complete his career in the telephone business. And in his words, it was his "state championship."
Tom served on several boards and organizations in the community as well as many national and state telephone boards and committees.
Tom is preceded in death by his parents; his four sisters: Eileen Naughton, Jean Parker, Patricia Sanborn, Jacqueline Cavanaugh; one brother: William Henderson; and, one grandson, Jase Henderson.
Tom is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Darlene (Tryan) Henderson, and his six children: Sherry (Greg) Neill of Billings, Larry (Del) Henderson of Scobey, Julie (Bob) Rux of Billings, Brad (Sherri) Henderson of Miles City, Lisa (Leo) Brady of Fairfield, and Jeffrey (Kevin Sonnichsen) Henderson of Seattle, Washington. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren: Kimberly (Roy) Guy of Laurel, Amy (Rick) Stumvoll of The Colony Texas, Sean (Tiffany Miller) Neill, Jennifer (Maggie) Neilson of Seattle Washington, Renzi (Greg) Horton of Great Falls, Kirbi (Morgan) Maus of Billings, Brady Henderson of Scobey, Demi Henderson (Shawn Tezak) of Columbus, Taylor (Scot) McKinney of Laurel, Jaylen (Teague Blome) Henderson of Miles City, Darbi (Sean) Courtney of Helena, and Trace (Emily) Brady of Billings. He is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren and one on the way.
The family would like to give special thanks to RiverStone Health Hospice for their exceptional care. We would also like to recognize, as honorary pallbearers, the employees of Nemont who worked alongside Tom during his tenure.
Funeral services will be held at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Billings at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, with a Vigil on Monday, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Bernard's Chapel. Honoring Tom's request, cremation took place at Heights Family Funeral Home & Crematory with a private family burial of ashes to be held at a later date at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Billings.
Memorials can be made to Daniels County Memorial Hospital in Scobey, RiverStone Health, or St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Billings.
Published by Heights Family Funeral Home & Crematory, Billings, MT on Friday, January 7, 2022
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