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Rex LaVerne Thralls
Apr 20, 1929 - Sep 22, 2015

© Enid News and Eagle
09-24-2015
Submitted by: Glenn

Rex LaVerne Thralls, 86, of Billings, Oklahoma was born to Kenneth Orlando Thralls and Grace Viola (Hawkins) Thralls on April 20, 1929 in Seattle, Wash.. He went to be with his Lord and Savior Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at St. Mary's Hospital in Enid, Okla.
 

When Rex was a toddler his parents moved to Helena, Okla., to farm. There he began his farming as an 8-year-old boy by doing various chores and driving the tractor.

Then in 1943, the family moved to the Antelope Valley Community, where his dad was a preacher-farmer and Rex continued his interest in farming through livestock projects and showing steers in FFA at Garber High School where he graduated in 1947.

He received the FFA State Farmer Award as a senior. Also that year he took a two month voyage to Ethiopia to deliver livestock for the "Heifer Project" (this is an ongoing worldwide project - now known as Heifer International-giving livestock and teaching skills to people in developing countries).

After one year at McPherson College, McPherson, Kan., he came back home to Billings, Okla., to farm with his dad and to marry his high school sweetheart, Dona Rae Pfrimmer, on October 16, 1949 at Antelope Valley Church of the Brethren, Billings. They had two children: Mike and Debby.

Rex and Dona leave behind a great legacy of a love for their family and for farming. They had a lifelong career in agriculture; while raising a family they farmed, ran a dairy, and raised cattle.

They received the State Farm Bureau "Farm Family of the Year" in 1977. Rex was presented the Honorary FFA Chapter Farmer Award from the Billings FFA.

He farmed for over seventy-five years, until his death, always with faith in God and always in partnership: first with his dad, then with his son, currently with his grandsons and great-grandsons, (and with Blu, his canine companion) and always with his wife until her death in 2010.

Besides a passion for farming and family, Rex had a passion for his church � Antelope Valley Church of the Brethren. He served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher and many other offices.

He also cared deeply about Camp Spring Lake church camp in Cordell, Okla., where he camped as a child and then continued to support the camp throughout his life�serving on the board, actively participating in camp work days, and buying food and supplies for the camp. Rex also served on several boards in the community including Billings School Board for twelve years and the Hunter Rural Water Association Board where he was instrumental in bringing rural water to the Antelope Valley Community. Beyond the official roles, Rex was a wonderful neighbor always lending a helping hand, a cheerful word and a joyful laugh to friend and stranger alike.
 

Rex will lie in state at Antelope Valley Church of the Brethren from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, 2015 and the family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Saturday, September 26, 2015, at Antelope Valley Church of the Brethren, with Pastor Kelly Cronkhite officiating.

Interment will follow at Polo Cemetery. Services have been entrusted to the care of Martin-Dugger Funeral Home, Elk City, Okla.
 

Rex is survived by his daughter, eight grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren: daughter, Debby (Thralls) Holloway and husband, Bill of Uvalde, Texas; their three daughters, Amber Younts and husband, Danny of Odessa, Texas; Brooke Holloway of Arlington, Va.; and Crystal Rieff and husband, Joshua and son, Shepherd of Waco, Texas; daughter-in-law Donna Sue Thralls of Billings, Okla.; her five children, Ray Thralls and wife, Abby and daughters, Katy and Ellie of Broken Arrow, Okla.; Greg Thralls and wife, Sunny and children, Bryce, Kristian and Kaysun of Calera, Okla.; Michele Stowers and husband, Alan and sons, John and Jalan of Quantico, Va.; Angie Reinschmiedt and husband, Ben and daughters Addison, Ainslie and Braelyn of Garber, Okla.; and Derek Thralls and wife, Crystal of Guthrie, Okla.; two sisters, Vernona Stork and husband, Jack of Bella Vista, Ark.; LaVona Schnaithman of Enid, Okla.; sister-in-law Cindy Yost of Billings, Okla.; brother-in-law Bill Majors and wife, Rosalie of Ponca City, Okla.; sister-in-law Shirley Thralls of Oceanside, Calif.; numerous nieces and nephews; and his large church and community family. He loved all.


He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, Dona Rae Thralls, his son, Mike Thralls, two brothers, Don Thralls and Roy Thralls (who died in infancy), and two brothers-in-law Sidney Yost and Paul Schnaithman.
 

Memorials can be made to Antelope Valley Church of the Brethren or Heifer International (www.heifer.org) in care of Martin-Dugger Funeral Home, 600 West Country Club Blvd., Elk City, OK 73644.
 

Condolences may be sent to the family using the online guestbook at www.martin-duggerfuneralhome.com.
 

(Submitted by family)   
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