Thomas "Tom" R. McMaster

Tom was born in Minneapolis MN in 1937 to Rolland and Hattie McMaster. The McMaster family moved frequently throughout Tom’s childhood, following his father Rolland’s jobs in the printing industry. Over the years, they lived in many places before eventually settling in New Town, North Dakota, where Rolland ran the town's newspaper. After leaving school, Tom enlisted in the United States Navy and was stationed at Whidbey Island, Washington. Tom served as support personnel for the ‘Heavy Attack Squadron’ of naval aviators. He served four years and was honorably discharged. Looking to begin a new chapter in his life, Tom made plans to move to Australia. However, those plans changed when his mother suffered a stoke. Faced with a difficult decision, he chose to remain in North Dakota to support his family and took a job on the oil rigs. Eventually Tom moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota where he lived with friends Virgil and Gladis (Happy Bottom) Koolmo. He began working at Electric Machinery, with his friend Keith Perlich. Through Keith and his wife Betty, he met Pam in May 1966. Tom and Pam married in December 1966 and in March 1968 they purchased the family home and settled in Blaine. In May 1969, Bec was born and in July 1973 Jen was born. Tom's family was his life. Anyone who knew Tom knew his directness, not to mention the many memorable phrases that will forever remind us of him and bring a smile to our faces. The most famous became what Bec & Jen affectionately call the “family cure for bad decisions.” It was the one phrase that echoed through the house more than any other. It wasn’t “I love you” It wasn’t “Be careful.” It wasn’t even “Because I said so” (thought that was one of Pam’s favorites). Nope. It was “Pull your head out of your butt.” To this day, those words live on, echoing through time - a voice from childhood, a family motto, and a reminder of Tom’s uniquely direct approach to life lessons. We like to think Tom is resting easy, knowing that no matter how old his daughters get, whenever they witness - or, even heaven forbid, do - something spectacularly foolish, they’ll immediately know the appropriate corrective actions: Pull your head out of your butt!

Tom was preceded in death by parents, Rolland and Hattie McMaster; brother, James McMaster; and sisters: Shirley Pettit, Becky Morley, and Martha Cameron.

Tom is dearly missed by his loving wife, Pamela McMaster; daughters, Rebecca (Sean) O’Farrell, Jennifer (Henri) McMaster; sisters, Cathy Matteson, Mary Johnson; and many nieces and nephews he loved and whom loved him.

A service for Tom will be held by his family at his final resting place at Morningside Memorial Gardens of Coon Rapids, Minnesota on Thursday July 16th at 10:30am.