John Thomas Herseth

John Thomas Herseth was tragically taken from this life on Tuesday September 8, 2020; he was 76 years of age. A bright light was extinguished too soon from his family and many friends. Tom was born to Roy and Lillian (Jill) Herseth on April 20, 1944 in Los Angles, California. The family moved to Chico, California when Tom was seven years of age, where he attended Notre Dame Catholic School and Chico High School with the Class of 1962. As a young man growing up in Chico, he worked at Wentz Market and in the Bettencourt's almond orchards. After graduating Tom joined the Air Force and served at Beale Air Force Base in Marysville, California. He was so proud to have been chosen to be part of the classified SR-71 Blackbird Project. In 2013 he visited the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC and was able to see and touch the SR-71 Blackbird once again. He bought his father's "Herseth Company" insulation business in Chico. He owned and operated this business for several years. Tom then ventured into the telephone business working for Ericsson Communications traveling to various states and cities installing phone systems in universities, colleges, and city/county agencies. From this experience Tom was offered a position at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho. He retired from Boise State with Emeritus Status in January of 2009 as a Facilities Manager. Tommy was known for cruising' around Chico in his high school days, as well as drag racing with the guys out on River Road, but he caught the serious "racing bug" in 1974, racing everywhere he could, but mostly at the Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico and West Capitol Speedway in Sacramento. Tom was an "Ex-Professional Race Car Driver" and enjoyed every minute of his racing career! Racing or talking about racing remained a major part of his life. He was inducted into the Northern California Auto Racing Alumni Hall of Fame in 2011; and the West Capital Raceway Hall of Fame in 2015. In retirement Tom enjoyed working in his shop restoring vintage race cars, his home at Lake Almanor, dancing at Plumas Pines and spending time with his family and many friends. But he didn't slow down with retirement. After moving to Willows he worked for Marin & Mason, and Ron Johns in Princeton operating a "Hardy" during rice harvest and a tractor during spring planting. Tom was a Man for all Seasons. Tom is survived by his father, Roy Herseth of Boise, Idaho; his two sons, Andrew (Suzanne) of Arlington, Virginia; and Damond (Wendy) of Chico; and daughter Lisa Belshaw of Salt Lake City, Utah. Grandchildren Emma of Atlanta, Georgia; Bennett of Blacksburg, Virginia, and Coleman of Chico. Tom is also survived by Kathy Furtado. He was the happiest when he was with Kat. Everyone who knew him knew that she was the Love of his Life. They travelled together, they danced together, and they laughed together. Kathy's family was so happy to have Tom in their lives; and he treated them as his own. Tom especially enjoyed time with her grandson's Kyler, Jordyn and Tanner. Tom was preceded in death by his mother Lillian (Jill) Herseth, brother Jimmy Herseth, and granddaughter Lindsay Barron. As a last message to everyone, Tom would want to say: "THERE IS NOTHING HOLIER IN THIS LIFE OF OURS THAN THE FIRST CONSCIOUSNESS OF LOVE" Longfellow Due to COVID-19 no funeral will be held at this time. A Celebration of Tommy's Life will be held at a later date. In-lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital at stjude.org or mail to St. Jude's Children's Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105; or a charity of your choosing.