DOUGLAS - Graveside services for Thomas N. Rupe, 91, and Delores C. Rupe, 96, will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008, at the Douglas Park Cemetery in Douglas, WY, with Pastor Tim Ricker of the Frontier Baptist Church officiating. Military honors will be accorded by the Samuel Mares American Legion Post #8 and Wyoming Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors.

Delores Rupe passed on to our Lord on Monday, March 3, 2008, at the Douglas Care Center and Tom Rupe passed on to our Lord on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008, at the Douglas Care Center.

Delores was born August 11, 1911, in Madison, MO, the daughter of Pearl and Francis (Bulger) Holbrook.

She graduated from Nebraska City High School in Nebraska City, NE, in 1929.

She married Thomas N. Rupe in Modesta, CA, in 1953. She and Tom moved to Douglas in 1964, where Tom had been raised.

She enjoyed being a wife and homemaker, and was an avid participant and friend in the local bowling league for many years.

Delores was survived by her husband of 55 years, Tom, of Douglas; sister, Jamie Walker of California; stepsons, Thomas 'Larry' Rupe of Denver, CO, and Jack Rupe of Douglas; two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two nieces; and three nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and brother, Ralph Holbrook.

Tom was born March 11, 1917, in Franklin, NE, to Tandy and Lucille (Bulger) Rupe. His family moved to a homestead just outside of Bill, WY, in 1930, where he grew up and was well-known throughout the community.

As a young man, Tom joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served from Sept. 18, 1940, to Nov. 22, 1944, serving in the Pacific Theater during World War II. As a non-commissioned officer in the infantry, Tom heroically led his men through brutal hand-to-hand combat to defeat the Japanese invasion of Alaska in the Battle of Attu in the Aleutian Islands, Tom rarely spoke of his experiences.

During his time in service, Tom married Helen Opal Pickinpaugh and had two sons, Maurice Jacque Rupe and Thomas L. 'Larry' Rupe. Following the war, Tom and Helen divorced, and he moved to California.

He later married Delores Holbrook, a marriage of 55 years.

Following a move to Missouri, Tom and Delores moved back to the Douglas area, where he operated his own contracting business and built many of the buildings in Douglas.

Tom's quality of work is still well respected amongst the contractors who knew him.

Following retirement, he enjoyed hunting and fishing and the company of his sons, family, and friends.

Tom was a valued and rowdy companion, whose antics could always find their ways to be delivered by friends in an elk-hunting party over a beer and a smile.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Delores; his brothers, I.B. and Jack Rupe; and his grandson, Eddie Rupe.

He is survived and missed by his two sons, Jack (Jan) Rupe of Douglas and Tom 'Larry' Rupe (Yung) of Denver, CO; one granddaughter, Tammy (Corey) Larson of Douglas; one grandson, Chad Rupe of Douglas; three great-granddaughters; two great-grandsons; and two nephews, Tom Rupe of Casper, WY, and Jim Rupe of Douglas.

A memorial to the Samuel Mares American Legion Post #8, P.O. Box 1, Douglas, WY 82633 would be appreciated by the family.

Gorman Funeral Homes, Converse Chapel of Douglas is in charge of the arrangements.