Thomas Sweeney

Thomas Joseph Sweeney, 63, died on September 30, 2017, under his own private terms. Funeral services will be at 11:00am Friday, October 6, 2017 at Christ the King Catholic Church, Presho, SD. A Prayer Service will be said at 7:00pm Thursday evening at the church. Thomas Joseph Sweeney was born December 5, 1953, to Joe and DeElda (Hilmoe) Sweeney, and was a lifelong resident of Presho. He graduated in 1972 as part of the first combined class of Lyman High School. He went to work for Farmer’s Union Coop in 1975, and was employed there until the time of his death. Tom didn’t stray too far out of the Lyman County lines, as he felt everything he needed in life was within a short radius from home. Tom enjoyed fishing at the river, and although he hated pickled fish, he liked making it to give to friends and family. He planted a huge garden every year using just a few of the vegetables himself, while giving the rest to anybody else who would use it. The Minnesota Vikings were his team, and he stood behind them no matter how often they lost. He was known for drinking Schlitz beer and was generally the only one who would want to. He would ask anyone he caught drinking it, “you got a license to drink that?” Tom was a very stubborn man. His mother made him eat rhubarb when he was growing up, and he hated it so much that he planted it as an adult just to mow it down every year. Tom was funny and clever witted in a subtle, well-thought-out way. He was an extremely private person, and also a very kind and generous person, who often gave with anonymity because he believed that’s how giving should be done. He wasn’t much for ego or notoriety and was one to stay true to his own beliefs. He did life under his conditions, and he didn’t really care what anyone else thought about it. Tom will be missed by his mother, DeElda and her husband LeRoy; his five nieces, Amy, Tammy, Julie, Laura, and Lindsey; his two nephews, Dan and Daryl; several great-nieces and nephews, a host of cousins, and many great friends. Preceding him in death were his father, Joe Sweeney; sisters, Colleen Hendrickson, Shirley Gerard and Carol Massingale; brother-in-law, Rod Hendrickson; and nephews, Mike Massingale and Laramie Gerard.