Thomas Riley, 81, of Worthington, died on Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at the Sunset Hospice Cottage in Worthington, MN.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 4, 2012, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Worthington, MN, with Father Jim Callahan officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Worthington.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 3, 2012, from 4:00 p.m.to 8:00 p.m., at the Benson Funeral Home in Worthington, MN.
Thomas Delaney Riley was born Dec. 13, 1930 to Frank and Florence (Delaney) Riley. He attended Riley school District 117, then Sioux Valley High School graduating in 1948. His father died when Tom was 19 and he had to take over the farming operation.
Thomas was united in marriage to Catherine Theobald September 11, 1954 in Sherburn, MN. They settled on the Riley homestead in Round Lake Township where they lived until 1961. That year they moved to their own farm located outside Worthington where they raised cattle, hogs and grain. In 1984, he saw an opportunity in the John Deere business and bought his first store, Tracy Equipment in Tracy, MN. He subsequently bought two additional John Deere stores in Sheldon, IA and Slayton, MN. Catherine passed away January 25, 2006. He married Mary R. Royer in March 2008 in Mancos, CO. Thomas died on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at the Sunset Hospice Cottage in Worthington.
Thomas is survived by his nine children: Frank (Chris) Riley, Worthington, MN; Mary Catherine Riley, Bloomington, MN; Dan (Jan) Riley, Round Lake, MN; Peter (Vanessa) Riley, Hartley, IA; Dr. Ann Riley (Dr. Mike Gmurek), Tahlequah, OK; Patrick Riley (Teresa Owens -special friend and her children Coral, Jasmine, Ashley & Calah); Colleen (John) Bowman, Algona, IA; Michael (Christy) Riley, Brewster, MN; Dr. Rose Riley (Steve Dennison) Sioux Falls, SD and eight grandchildren: Officer Mark Riley (Worthington) Leah Riley (Marshall, MN), KC Riley (Worthington), Vincent Riley (Worthington), Amanda and Katie Murek (Tahlequah, OK), Gabriel Riley (Hartley, IA), Annette Dennison (Sioux Falls, SD). He is also survived by his wife, Mary Rene, sister, Sally Fairchild Nordstrom, Terril, IA and brother, Jim, Salt Lake City, UT.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine, his father, mother and a brother, Phillip.
Online condolences my be sent to: www.bensonfh.com