Barbara “Bunny” Thomas was a skilled engineering draftsperson at a time and in a field which employed few women. Highly regarded for her work, she developed her skill mostly through on-the-job training when she was in her 20s, achieving much at the U.S. Forest Service in Challis, Idaho, and later Potlatch producing maps and serving as a timekeeper on forest fire duty.
Born in Atlanta, Ga., on July 11, 1939, she moved when young to Moscow with her parents Dorothy and Harold “Casey” Berg and brother Jerry, when her father got a job teaching at the University of Idaho’s Department of Engineering. She always considered Moscow her home although she spent some years in Alaska, eastern Washington, the Tri-Cities and Challis.
The move to Moscow would be fateful as she met her later-in-life husband, Robert Thomas, while at Moscow High School. Never mind that he used to refer to her as “pest” when she was a freshman and he was a senior; when they re-met in Moscow in the 1990s, he had obviously changed his mind and they were married in 2001. They spent 22 years happily married, traveling (Italy, Panama and Australia), wintering in Arizona near Yuma and spending time at their cabin on Lake Chatcolet.
Barbara’s summers at the cabin were among her happiest, boating and being on the lake with Bob, and hosting their family and friends with wonderful meals and great hospitality. Lasagna was her signature dish and was on everyone’s birthday dinner wish list. Barbara believed in making everyone feel welcome and at home, and always enjoyed a game of pool or cards, both of which she was very good at. She had a dry wit and a wicked sense of humor which would be wielded with perfect timing and a sparkle in her blue eyes.
Barbara died peacefully at Hill House Memory Care on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.
She is survived by her husband Bob Thomas; her two daughters Colleen Henry of North Fremantle, Australia, and Darice Henry of Helena, Mont. (from her first marriage to Delmar Eddy Henry); Greg Thomas of Moscow, Jeff Thomas of Moscow, Karen (John Polle) Thomas of Tucson, Ariz., and Bob Thomas Jr. (Penny) of Meridian, Idaho; and by grandchildren Zachary (Allison), Dylan, Michael (Hayden), Tyler (Jason), Holden (Katy), Ainsley, Lyla; five great-grandchildren; her sister Candy (Dale) Borer of Deland, Fla.; nieces Valerie (Jake) Cutshall of Moscow and Kjelda Berg (Jonathan Sandquist) of Moscow; and nephew Casey (Trish) Berg of Sandpoint.
Barbara is preceded in death by her brother Harold “Jerry” Berg of Moscow.
A celebration of life service will take place in July 2024; friends and family will be notified of arrangements at a future date.
