Thomas (Tommy) William Tolman

Thomas (Tommy) William Tolman

DOB 01-01-1950  DOD 01-30-2026

Tommy passed away in Fargo, ND Friday, January 30, 2026 at Essentia Hospital after a sudden illness.

A Memorial Service will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Korsmo Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. And 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Tommy was born January 1, 1950 at St. Cloud, MN to Thomas and Elaine Tolman.  He was the oldest of 5 siblings. He was the first baby born that year and Elaine got a prize for him arriving on New Years Day.

The family moved to Pine City where brother Richard and sister Jean joined the family.  In 1953 the family moved to Bemidji where Father Tom was employed as a teacher.  In short order brother Robert arrived.  In 1957 the family moved to the “Farm”.  The kids spent hours exploring the woods, fields and building rafts, forts and inventing the Klutz.  Then Sister Donna arrived.

In 1968 Tommy graduated from Bemidji Senior High School and spent the summer on the Great Lakes on an ore boat earning money to pay for college.  After, he attended Moorhead State University where he earned a degree as a geologist.  What to do next.  The Air National Guard called.

He started as a rear seater in an F-4 fighter jet.  He made the cutoff to train to be a pilot, and was sent to Lubbock, Texas to train.  He graduated from the program as a First Lieutenant and was assigned to Fargo and the Happy Hooligans.  He spent the next 30 years flying jets.  He was transferred to Klamath Falls, OR for a tour, and got to come back to Fargo to finish his career.  He retired from the Air National Guard.

Retired? Not Hardly.  Tommy spent time flying for the Fargo Forum, was an active participant at the Fargo Legion, he was a friend to the Fargo Botanical Society, he was very active with the Garden Club and he spent hours cruising Fargo looking for ways to keep the streets uncluttered of treasures.

One of his proudest accomplishments was starting with a handful of Einkorn Wheat and propagating that handful to a storage unit full of wheat seed.

Tommy never passed on a bargain or a lemonade stand.  He loved helping those young entrepreneurs to start.  He had a big heart and would help almost anyone who needed a helping hand up.  He enjoyed many adventures and travel.

Tommy passed away in Fargo, ND at Essentia Hospital after a sudden illness.

If you got to know Tommy in any way, you also won a prize.

Tommy is survived by his Brother Richard (Chris) Tolman, Sister Donna (Rick) Andersen, nieces and nephews, sister-in-law Pat Bilek and friend Denise Morris.

Tommy was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents Thomas and Elaine Tolman, Siblings Jean Tolman-Gearman and Robert Tolman and nephew Geoffrey Andersen.

In lieu of flowers or monetary gifts, the family asks that donations be made to your favorite charity or library.

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