Thomas Emerson age 86 of Whitman, passed away on July 29, 2026, at his home.
Private family services will be held on Tuesday August 4, 2026. Burial will be in the Whitman Cemetery with Military Honors. The family would like to invite everyone to a Memorial service and meal at noon on Tuesday, August 4th, at the Winters Building in Hyannis, please bring your stories and memories to share. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests memorials to the Whitman Community Club, Sandhills Rural Fire District or the Grant County Ambulance.
Govier Brothers Mortuary/Mullen Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Words of encouragement or remembrance can be left at govierbrothers.com
Thomas Richard Emerson was born to Dean & Ruth Emerson on June 4, 1940, at Mrs. Campbell’s home in Oshkosh, NE. Thomas “Tom” joined a big brother Floyd Joseph (Joe) & a big sister Delores LaDean (Peggy). The family ranched south of Oshkosh. When it was time for grade school he boarded in town. In 1950, they purchased the ranch north of Oshkosh, where he attended Goose Lake school until high school, then again boarded in town to attend Garden County High School. He excelled in football, track, & rodeo. He was the 1957 champion saddle bronc. He graduated from the class of 1958. During that summer he had his own haying crew. Then went to northern California to work in the Sawmill near Eureka, CA. Returning home to the ranch where he was head mechanic. In 1963, he volunteered to join the Army where he served as a vet tech working with dogs in Korea until his discharge in 1965. After serving in the Army he came back to the ranch & sold imported tractors from England.
In January 1966, he married MariAnn Archer in the Oshkosh Methodist Church. A time before he had told a neighbor “It would be a cold day in hell when he would get married” it was an extremely cold winter that year, the neighbor would call everyday & ask “Are you married yet?” He has two sons Brad Patrick & Thad Micheal helping them establish their own cattle ranches. He was so proud of them both & a great Father to them, enjoying their school activities & teaching them a great work ethic! He so enjoyed his grandchildren Brittney Emerson Walker (Koby) & Jaden Dean and looking forward to his great grandchild due in September!
In 1967, he opened a shop in Hyannis & for a few years as well as taking care of his ranching duties at home.
The family lived on his Dad’s ranch for nine years, then leased a ranch north of Lakeside for five years before buying the ranch at Whitman in 1980. He built a shop to sell & service haying & feeding equipment, designing a frame to handle double disc mowers & a bale mover processor, which were sold locally as well as to many western states and Texas, Florida, Colorado, Kansas, North & South Dakota.
He worked hard & played hard!! He enjoyed bowling for many years, qualifying for the National Senior Bowling tournament in Reno & Henderson NV, placing 4th in the nation in his age group! He also enjoyed traveling! He loved visiting with his customers & appreciated all of them over all the years!!
He will be greatly missed by his Family & friends.
