Thomson Smith Amidon, III

Thomson Smith Amidon III, died on August 26, 2023, at home with his loving family by his side.  Special thanks for the nurses and doctors at Riverwood Hospital and St. Croix Hospice for their outstanding kindness and support.  “Tom” was born April 6, 1937, at Eitel Hospital in Minneapolis to Thomson Smith Amidon Jr. and Elsabeth Findley Amidon. He lived in Edina, MN with his parents and sister, Eleanor Amidon, frequently traveling to family property on Farm Island Lake where he pursued his love of fishing and hunting.  Tom helped with his father’s firewood business and Island View Resort.  In 1954, when Tom was 16, the family moved to the resort full-time.  He bought a huge McCoulloch, the first of many chain saws.  In June of 1956 Tom graduated from Aitkin Hight School, joined the Navy in February 1957 as he didn’t want to wait to be drafted.  Logging was Tom’s passion, he didn’t want to work for anyone else, starting his own business March 1961 and soon became well known for the quality of his work.  Tom met his future wife, Sarah Maxine Amidon (Thompson), while clearing trees at her parents’ resort.  They married on October 31, 1962, and together they operated Amidon Forest Products until he retired in 1998.  Tom loved dogs, tolerated cats, enjoyed tending their property, planting and gardening numerous apple, plum, cherry, grapes, blueberry, and raspberry plants, spending many hours tending to them.  In 2019 Tom lived through a major hernia operation and moved in with his sister Eleanor back to the home they originally lived in back in 1954.  Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Thomson Smith Amidon, Jr. & Elsabeth Findley Amidon, his sister Betsy Amidon King, and wife, Sarah Maxine Amidon (Thompson). 

Tom is survived by his sister, Eleanor Amidon; daughter, Julie Amidon-Conklin, and fur baby Darcy.

Tom was the ultimate old-school lumberjack, known for his exceptional work ethic, commitment to quality, love of logging and pride in a job well done.  His easy-going attitude and ready smile will be greatly missed by his friends and family.

Tom will be laid to rest with full military honors in the Bennettville Cemetery at 11am - Thursday, August 31, 2023.  Arrangements are with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home in Aitkin.  Go to www.srtfuneral.com to leave a message of condolence.

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