THOMAS KRISTA
The memorial mass for longtime Eden area farmer, Tom Krista, will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Eden. Rev. Fr. Ken Lulf will celebrate the mass. Interment will be in St. Michael’s Cemetery of Eden under the direction of the Price Funeral Chapel of Britton.
Visitation will be from 5- 7:00 Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at the church, concluding with a 7:00 p.m. vigil service.
Tom passed away at his home on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 following a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer, at the age of 65.
Thomas Anthony Krista was born January 6, 1956 in Sisseton, SD to Michael “Mike” and Mathilda Susan “Tillie” (Waletich) Krista. He attended school through the eighth grade at Sacred Heart Grade School in Eden before graduating from Roslyn High School. He continued his education at Lake Area Vocational Technical School in Watertown where he completed a two-year course of study in diesel mechanics.
After completing his education, Tom worked for a short time on the assembly line at Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls, MN. He next worked as a diesel mechanic at Thorp Auto in Britton briefly before returning to the family farm. He then started what would be a 40-year career as a farmer on the land his grandfather had homesteaded near Eden.
Tom was a gifted mechanic and had a knack of taking something most folks would consider junk, and turning it into a useful piece of machinery. He could fix most anything, but John Deere implements held a special place in his heart. He had a great fondness for animals and a strong dislike for having to kill any creature. Over the years, Tom had owned a number of dogs, every one of them was a German Shepherd and each of them was named Fido!
As Tom’s disease progressed, he took great comfort and solace in working in his Bobcat. Perhaps one of the most heartbreaking comments he made was after he returned from his first chemo treatment. He looked at all of his old machinery and lamented, “I have all of these treasures and now I won’t be able to work on any of them.”
Grateful for having shared Tom’s life are his siblings: Larry Krista, Marge Krista, Janice (Jim) Brakefield; George Krista and Pete (Mavis) Krista; his niece and nephews: Kris Brakefield (Bob) Baumgartner, Brian (Melissa) Brakefield, Ben Krista and Joe Krista; his greatnieces and nephews: Emily (Kurt Celmer) Baumgartner, Olivia Baumgartner, Sarah Baumgartner, Elizabeth Brakefield, Kyle Brakefield, Megan Brakefield, Layken Krista and Jaelynn Knefelkamp.
Preceding him in death were his parents and an infant brother.
Condolences may be directed to the family in care of Marge Krista – 44257 120th St. – Eden, SD 57232.
An online guestbook and obituary are available at www.pricefuneralchapel.net.