Thomas E. Sliter, 69

Thomas Sliter peacefully “followed his Lord’s call home” on Saturday, July 2, 2016.

Tom’s faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior was the strongest of all of Tom’s convictions. Tom bore witness to everyone through his kindness, grace and seemingly endless ability to serve. He accepted many roles at Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Camp. He served on the school board, including as its chairman, advocating for teachers and growing the Kalispell school. He served as Trinity’s congregational secretary and as a lay ministry elder. Tom needed a bit of persuasion to serve as an elder. He felt he was, perhaps, too human. Fortunately, the primary tenet of Tom’s Lutheran faith is grace — we are all human, but deserving of forgiveness and God’s love. His peers convinced him to accept the call. Despite working six or seven days a week, Tom rarely missed a church or school board meeting or a regular 8 a.m. service.

Tom was a kind and selfless father and grandfather, a best friend and traveling companion of his late wife, Ralene, a generous friend to many Flathead Valley initiatives, and an owner of Sliters Lumber & Building Supply. He was a Kalispell native who was dedicated to his faith, his family and his community. Tom was an honest and humble man who continued a family legacy of civic leadership that spans generations.

Tom was born May 11, 1947, to Everit L. and Margaret (Grata) Sliter, the youngest of three sons after brothers Neils (Joe) and Everit A.

He is survived by daughter Andrea Goudge, and husband, Bill, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; daughter Laura Sliter, and husband, Christian Sorensen, of Anaheim, Calif.; son, Andrew Sliter, and wife, Debbie of Bigfork; and daughter Linda A.J. Yearous, and husband, Ryan, of Missoula. Tom had six beloved grandchildren: Abigail, Fisher, and Graham Sliter of Bigfork; and Beck, Greta, and Thomas Sorensen of Anaheim.

Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Ralene Kay (Johnson) Sliter, his parents, his eldest brother, Joe, and his nephew, Paul.

Tom attended Hedges Elementary and graduated from Flathead High School in 1965. He followed in the footsteps of several family members, choosing Valparaiso University in Indiana, where he studied geography and mathematics, and fell for his bride, Ralene Johnson. Tom struggled to win his spot on the Valparaiso basketball team and would reminisce, “I might not have been the best player, but I always had the most hustle.” Tom earned the uncharacteristic nickname “Rockslide” after wrecking his prized Austin Healey convertible on the way to Spokane for a tune-up. To some, “Rockslide” was a reflection of Tom’s alter ego. Tom once took a part-time laborer job at a Bethlehem Steel mill without telling his parents, in order to save up for a hi-fi stereo, which he kept his whole life. Tom and Ralene loved listening to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, the Ventures electric surfer jazz, The Beach Boys, The Byrds and, of course, The Beatles.

Tom and Ralene married in Tom’s senior year at Valparaiso and made their first home in Highland, Indiana. Upon graduation, Tom worked for 10 years as a systems engineer with IBM in Chicago. He leveraged his computer savvy to automate his unit’s payroll while serving in the U.S. Army National Guard. While in Chicago, Tom and Ralene grew their family, adding daughters Andrea Rianne and Laura Margaret, and a son, Andrew Thomas. Their fourth child, Linda Agather Johnson “A.J.,” was born in Kalispell after the family moved to Montana. From 1979 through the end of his life, Tom actively participated in the management and leadership of Sliters Lumber and Building Supply.

Tom was surrounded by great people in his work life at Sliters. Tom graciously led the company for 30 years but would have traded anything to have his father, his brother, and his nephew Paul at his side. Tom was decorated with achievement awards from the Western Building Material Association, Flathead Building Association and the Somers Lakeside Chamber of Commerce, just to name a few. Rather than take credit, Tom would deflect such praise toward his father, his brothers and his crew of amazing employees.

Tom’s business card read “Owner-Janitor.” This sense of stewardship extended beyond his business. Picnics with the family at Apgar campground always ended with a round of cleanup of litter left behind in the park. Tom would proclaim, “Leave a place better than you found it!” Every visit with his kids ended by Tom reminding them, “Love you guys. Take care of each other.” Tom lived these ideals in the way he served and how he treated everyone. We can only hope to absorb these life lessons and continue to live Tom’s legacy. Tom certainly left this place better than he found it!

Instead of flowers, Tom’s children recommend donations to one of the local causes dear to his heart: Somers Company Town Project, Trinity Lutheran School, or the Sliters Endowed Scholarship for the Industrial Arts at FVCC.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 12, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kalispell.