Michael Elwood Thomason

Michael E. Thomason, of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Friday, January 23, 2026 at CHI, St. Alexius Health, Devils Lake Hospital at the age of 78 years.

Funeral Services for Mike will be held on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home Chapel, Devils Lake with Reverend Dayne Zachrison officiating. Burial with Military Honors will take place at a later date in the Devils Lake Cemetery. There will be a time of fellowship following the funeral service at the White House Cafe.

Michael Elwood Thomason, son of Bill and Ruth (Hoistad) Thomason was born on December 22, 1947 in Devils Lake ND where he lived most of his life.

He was a Devils Lake Public School student, and earned his GED while living in Texas for a short time. Right after high school, Mike lived and worked in Seattle, Washington for a few years, before returning to Devils Lake and entering the United States Army.

Mike entered the United States Army on July 5, 1967 and proudly and honorably served in country in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant on April 4, 1969 and continued to serve with the Army Reserves until 1973.

In 1975, Mike began a 33 year career with Burlington Northern Santa Fa Railroad as a section maintenance of ways laborer. He retired in 2008, but Mike wasn’t quite ready to fully retire, so he did work at WalMart for a time.

Mike was united in marriage to Candice Cashman on July 18, 1981 in Devils Lake where they lived, worked, and raised their family through the years.

Mike loved the outdoors; hunting, fishing, gardening, flower beds and hiking. In 2009, Mike hiked the Maah Daah Hey Trail (100 miles) at Medora. Gene Bakken and Verne Cashman were a part of this hiking adventure too. He hiked many other trails in the region. When first married, Mike and Candice would enjoy many camping trips to different sites in North Dakota. They started with a tent, eventually got a pop-up camper and in 2013 bought a motorhome (getting older they decided a motorhome would suit their needs much better) and did more extensive travelling to Oklahoma and Montana. These camping trips always included time to hang out with friends and family in different states. Mike enjoyed get togethers with friends, family, and his buddies at the VFW Club.

Mike was a member of the Railroad Union and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mike never met a stranger…he was the kindest man…and such a good sense of humor. We will miss him so much but Parkinson’s disease was taking its toll on him. He will forever be in our hearts.

A Vietnam veteran and Railroad man who knew the land by foot and by rail, he walked his miles with a rugged spirit, steadfast in his love for family and the close friends who journeyed beside him.

Mike is survived by his wife Candice of nearly 45 years; sons Michael Shawn Thomason, Minot ND and Blaine (Heather) LeNoir, Grand Forks, ND; granddaughter Peyton LeNoir; grandson Channing LeNoir; brother Steve Thomason (Lynn) of Devils Lake; sisters Shelly Thomason and Chris Thomason both of Tucson, AZ; brother-in-law Bill Chasman, Devils Lake; many nieces, nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, sister Debbie Williams, mother-in-law Leona Winslow, brother-in-law Verne Cashman and aunts and uncles on the Thomason and Cashman side who thought the world of Mike.

Honorary Bearers will be Gene Bakken, Brandon Sailor, Clarence “Punky” Toso, Scott Bradley, Jack Anderson.