Thomas "Tom" James Barker

Mass of Christian burial for Thomas James "Tom" Barker, 74, of Aberdeen, will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, August 3, 2015, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 409 3rd Avenue SE, Aberdeen, with Father Melvin Kuhn as celebrant.

Tom's wishes were to be cremated with burial taking place at St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery in Grover, SD.

Schriver's Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be 4-5 p.m., Sunday, at the mortuary, with a Liturgical Wake Service following at 5:00 p.m.

Tom passed away Thursday, July 30, 2015, at his home in Aberdeen. Blessed be his memory.

Thomas James "Tom" Barker was born May 9, 1941, in Watertown, SD, to Hugh Walter and Ila Marie (Williams) Barker of Thomas, SD. He went to grade school in Thomas and graduated from Hazel High School.

Tom was united in marriage to Yvonne Flakus of Lake Norden, SD, in 1961. They had three children.

Tom farmed near Grover, worked as a guard at the State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, at Palo Verde Irrigation District in Blythe, CA, and was a truck driver until his retirement.

Tom enjoyed hunting, fishing, sports, and especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He had lived in Aberdeen for the past 14 years and was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his three children: Kathryn (Bruce) Stearns of Knoxville, TN, Scott (Tina) Barker of Andover, SD, and Timothy (Susan) Barker of Aberdeen; 14 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; three brothers: Dan (Shirley) Barker of Madison, SD, Jack (Verna) Barker of Centerville, IA, and Mike (Kathy) Barker of Eight Mile Road, AL; and one sister, Mary Stoner (Jack Weeks) of Watertown, SD.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Hugh and Ila; one sister, Jeanne (Barker) Gerling; one brother-in-law, Lavern Gerling; two sisters-in-law: Marjorie Barker and Jean Barker; and two nephews: Steve Barker and David Gerling.