Thomas "Tom" Lichter, age 87, of Mitchell, SD died Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at his home under hospice care. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Monday, January 9, 2017 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with burial at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Sunday January 8, 2017 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with a prayer service followed by a rosary beginning at 7:00 PM at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Will Funeral Chapel.

Thomas P. Lichter, son of Peter and Mary (Heisinger) Lichter, was born November 25, 1929 on the family farm in rural Parkston, SD. He graduated from Lemmon High School and returned to Parkston. Tom began his career with NorthWestern Public Service (NWPS) while living in Parkston.

He was united in marriage with Alice Wermers on June 26, 1951 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Dimock, SD. The couple made their home in Parkston. Tom entered the US Marine Corp on December 14, 1951. He was stationed in El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, Santa Ana, CA. He was honorably discharged on December 4, 1953 with the rank of sergeant. The couple returned to South Dakota and Tom continued his career with NWPS in Armour, SD for nine months. In 1955, Tom was transferred with the company to Mitchell, SD. He retired in 1992 as an Electric Service Foreman after 44 years of service with NWPS.

Tom was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church since 1962 and has served on church council, finance council, as a lector and assisted with communion. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1950, the Moose Lodge for 40 years, IBEW #690 for 37 years, the Mitchell Fire Department for 27 years, the Good Sam RV Club for 15 years and the Mitchell Palace Promenader's  Square Dance Club for 25 years.  Tom served on the Abbott House Board for six years and the James Valley Senior Citizen Board for 6 years.  He also served as a volunteer at the Avera Queen of Peace Hospital and Firesteel Healthcare Center.

He enjoyed square dancing, home improvements, wintering in Arizona  for 12 years and camping.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Alice Lichter, Mitchell, SD; 11 children, Cindy (Bob) Dappen, Tempe, AZ, Dan (Sharon) Lichter, Ithaca, NY, Fr. Mark Lichter, Aberdeen, SD, Gerald (Sandy) Lichter, Grand Forks, ND, Tim (Michele) Lichter, Mainville, OH, Jeanne (Brandon) Neugebauer, Mitchell, SD, Joe (Julie) Lichter, McKinney, TX, Pat (Ann) Lichter, Minneapolis, MN, Paul (Jinette) Lichter, Omaha, NE, Michael (Erica) Lichter, Strongsville, OH, Jenny (Lance) Mayer, Sioux Falls, SD; 30 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren;  sisters-in-law, Geneva Lichter, Yankton, SD, Mildred Thury, Sioux Falls, SD, Helen Thury, Parkston, SD, Joan (Cap) Fergen, Mitchell, SD, Elinor (Dwain) Finkenbiner, Rapid City, SD; brothers-in-law, Lyle (Eunice) Wermers, Virginia Beach, VA, Jim Smith, Florida ; nieces and nephews.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, James Lichter; a sister, Fran Mutchelknaus;  brothers-in-law, Reinhold Mutchelknaus, Gerald Wermers, John Wermers, Norb Thury, and Louis Thury; sisters-in-law, Dottie Wermers, Lois Wermers and Mary (Wermers) Smith.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Mitchell Foundation for Catholic Education.