Thomas John Allen, 84, of Lakeside, passed away peacefully at home on Sept. 29, 2013.

Thomas was born in Los Angeles on July 1, 1929, to Thomas and Ethel Allen. His early childhood years and education were spent in Toronto, Ontario and Buffalo, N.Y.

Thomas worked many positions during his career in industry and government. He was a drift and raise miner for Anaconda Copper Mining Company in Butte. He later graduated from University of Missouri-Rolla with a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering. He was a registered professional engineer.

He was conscripted into the U.S. Army in 1955 and achieved the rank of first lieutenant. He was stationed in Fort A.P. Hill, Va., after basic training. After his military experience, he held mining engineer, chief engineer and superintendent and manager positions as he continued his career.

Some of the companies he worked for included U.S. Steel Corporation in Hibbing, Minn., Sheep Creek Mines Ltd. in Toby Creek, British Columbia, Zonolite Company in Libby, and Noranda Mines Ltd. at 100 Miles House, British Columbia. In 1964, he started working for the federal government at the Bonneville Power Administration in Portland. His government career also included working at the Bureau of Land Management in Portland, the U.S. Geological Survey in Reston, Va., and the U.S. Bureau of Mines in Washington, D.C., and Spokane. He retired in 1994.

In his earlier years he was an avid rower, fisherman, hunter and enjoyed playing bagpipes. He enjoyed his family, yearly family fishing vacations to Kootenay Lake, British Columbia, reading, genealogy and probably most of all, sitting on the deck having a “puff” while looking at the Mission and Swan mountain ranges. He was also a member of the Ken-Ton-Lodge, Tonawanda, N.Y., the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in the Valley of Duluth, and the El Katif Shriners, Spokane.

Thomas is survived by his wife of 55 years, Eleanore; their son, Thomas Allen Jr., and daughter-in-law, Tami, of Moscow, Idaho; daughter, Anne Marie Allen, of Billings; and grandchildren, Tom Allen III, Krystal, Kyle, Ryan, Hayden, Dylan and Katelyn. He will be missed by family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Shriners Hospitals for Children.

The family of Thomas John Allen wishes to thank all who cared for him in recent years.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family and a visitation and graveside service are being planned. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Thomas’ guest book, offer condolences and share memories.