Dr. Thomas Orchard

Dr. Thomas F. Orchard, 78, Bismarck, died November 19, 2006, at his home. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 1:30 PM at St. George's Episcopal Church in Bismarck with Rev. Michael Horn officiating. Visitation will be Friday from 5:00 - 8:00 PM at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. Dr. Thomas F. Orchard, the son of Welland and Oral Orchard, was born in Dickinson, North Dakota on April 23, 1928. The family moved to Bismarck in 1936, and Dr. Orchard graduated from Bismarck High School in 1946, enlisting in the Army soon after graduation. He served in Japan, where he was involved with monitoring the education of lower and middle schools on the island of Honshu. He returned to Bismarck, and attended Bismarck State College Bismarck Junior College at that time, transferring to Colorado State University CSU in 1949, graduating in 1951. While there he served as the president of the Phi Delta Gamma fraternity. He was accepted into the school of veterinary medicine at CSU, and after receiving his degree in 1954, he returned to Bismarck to start his practice. He and his partner, Dr. Donald Hastings, founded and built the Midway Veterinary Hospital and Clinic in 1959, where he practiced until 1993. At the time of his retirement from practice the clinic had grown to four doctors and nine laypersons. During Dr. Orchard's practice, the Midway Veterinary Hospital was accredited as a teaching hospital, training veterinarians throughout the United States, as well as from Mexico, Italy, England, Finland and Vietnam. During his professional life, Dr. Orchard served on numerous boards, agencies and associations. He served as a past president and is a life member of the North Dakota Veterinary Medical Association and represented the NDVMA in sessions of the North Dakota State Legislature. Dr. Orchard also served as a delegate of the NDVMA to the American Veterinary Medical Association AVMA. Governor William Guy appointed him in 1961 to the Livestock Sanitary Board. He was also appointed by the Governor to the North Dakota Veterinary Medical Examining Board, and acted as past president of that board. Dr. Orchard was "North Dakota Veterinarian of the Year" in 1988. Dr. Orchard served as a Boy Scout leader, and was a guest lecturer to both the advanced biology class at Bismarck high school and classes at local junior high schools. In addition, he presided as a judge for local and regional science fairs. Dr. Orchard was also a Board Member of Bismarck State College's National Alumni Association. He served the city of Bismarck on the Executive Committee of the Bismarck Chamber of Commerce, and was a member of the Bismarck-Mandan Developmental Association. He participated in the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, supported the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Medora, and is a member of the State Historical Society of the North Dakota Foundation. He is a member of the Fort Lincoln Foundation. Dr. Orchard served as a past president and lifetime member of the Dakota Zoological Society. He was the recipient of the Dakota Zoo's "Buffalo Award" for outstanding effort and achievement and acted as the Dakota Zoo's veterinarian until his retirement. Dr. Orchard was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, receiving a Patriotic Citizen's Award from the Bismarck Chapter of the VFW. He was also a member of the American Legion, and had a lifetime membership in the Elks Lodge. Active in St. George's Episcopal Church for decades, he served as a member of the Vestry, including as Sr. Warden. A Master Mason in Lewis and Clark Lodge #132 and a 32nd Degree Shriner in the El Zagal Temple, he served as a Shrine Hospital dad, and was a life member and past president of the "Duster" Antique Car Patrol, as well as a past director and life member of the Jesters. In 1956, he married Ruth Kracke, who has been a guiding light and partner all of his adult life recently celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. They have three sons: Tom Jr., who worked for many years in the engineering department for the city of Bismarck; Paul is a pediatric oncologist at the University of Minnesota; and Todd is a plastic surgeon in Lincoln, Nebraska. While Dr. Orchard spent many hours giving back to the people of North Dakota, his happiest times were spent at Blue Lake in the company of his family and friends. Dr. Orchard is survived by his wife, Ruth; sons, Tom Jr., Paul, and Todd; his daughters by marriage, Joan and Kim; his grandchildren, Christina, Alexander, Ryan, and Ian; his sister, Virginia and her husband, Mal Olson; as well as a number of nieces and nephews, and a great many friends and family. His parents, Welland and Oral Orchard; his brother Welland, Jr. and his wife Annette; and his brother, Jim, preceded him in death. He will be long and well remembered as a loving husband, father, and friend. Special thanks to Dr. Cindy Sharp and the dialysis staff at St. Alexis Hospital for their outstanding care. Memorials may be given to the Dakota Zoo, the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Medora, St. Alexius Hospice Team, and St. George's Episcopal Church.

Dr. Thomas Orchard

April 23, 1928 - November 19, 2006