William Richard ‘Bill’ Thrash, Sr., 89, of North Platte, NE, passed away Friday, October 3, 2014, at Great Plains Health.
Bill was born March 27, 1925, to William Gobel and Effie Irene Hall Thrash at Proctor, MN where he grew up. In June 1942, following completion of the 11th grade, Bill went to California to work in the Mare Naval Shipyards. He moved to North Platte later that year to join his family who had recently moved.
Bill was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943 and served until December 1945, earning a Bronze Star. Following his discharge, he returned to North Platte and went to work for Cohagen Freight Company, Nielsen-Petersen Freight Company then hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad as a fireman-oiler and later a machinist.
On January 20, 1947, Bill married Delores Darlene Telitz in North Platte and they were married 54 years before her passing in 2001. They moved to Arizona in 1954 where Bill worked for Vyne Brothers Electric in Prescott and other towns. They returned to North Platte two years later and Bill went to work for Cement Products until 1970 when he and Delores moved back to Prescott where they owned a drive-in restaurant. In 1974 they returned to North Platte where they made their home and Bill went back to work with Cement Products in the office, retiring in 1992.
In 1998 the NPPS Board of Education along with Nebraska Governor Ben Nelson, awarded Bill his high school diploma through Operation Recognition. This program grants high school diplomas to honorably discharged veterans who left high school before graduation to serve our country during wartime.
On September 19, 2002, Bill married Doris L. Pittman in North Platte. He had been a member of Grace Community Bible Church and a member of the P.R. Halligan Post #163 American Legion and F.O. Eagles #2839. Bill enjoyed camping, fishing, golfing and traveling.
He is survived by his wife, Doris, of North Platte; sons, Bill, Jr. (Connie) Thrash, of North Platte and Robert Lee Thrash (special friend, Cherry), of Amarillo, TX; stepchildren, Steve (Donna) Bomark, of North Platte, Mark (Joni) Bomark and Margo Fresquez, all of Cheyenne, WY and Lynne (Larry) Jeffers, of Hayes Center, NE; four grandchildren, Darin Thrash (Michelle Thompson), Tracy (Darrin Werries), Denny (Trish) Thrash and Troy (Melissa) Thrash; ten great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; many step grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a brother, Jim (Dot) Thrash, of Spokane, WA; several nieces, nephews and other family.
Along with his wife Delores, Bill was preceded in death by their son, James; his parents, William and Effie; and two sisters, Ruth Hazelton and Dorothy McDiffitt.
Cremation was chosen. A graveside memorial service with military honors will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 8, 2014, in Fort McPherson National Cemetery with Pastor Mike Wing officiating. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore which is in charge of arrangements. Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association.