Father Thomas Tobin

January 30, 1934 to December 19, 2023

Father Thomas Tobin, 89, of Ekalaka passed away December 4, 2023. The Funeral Mass was held December 18, 2023, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and burial followed at the Holy Family Shrine in Ismay, Montana.

Thomas Tobin was born in New Inn, Ireland on January 30, 1934, to Patrick and Ellen Tobin. He and his siblings were raised on the family farm. Thomas answered God’s calling to serve and was ordained a Catholic priest on June 14, 1959, in Graffon, Tipperary, Ireland.

Father Tobin made the decision to leave his homeland and serve in the Diocese of Great Falls, Montana, in 1959 where his first assignment was an assistant at St. Pius X Church in Billings for a year. Father Tobin was assigned over the next several years in Livingston, Great Falls, Columbus, HIlger and Big Sandy. Father Tobin moved to Baker in 1978 and served as the priest at St. John the Evangelist in Baker and St. Anthony in Plevna. In 1992, he also was happy and willing to start serving at St. Joan of Arc in Ekalaka, MT. He served these three parishes and put on countless miles over the years, always with a welcoming smile to all who entered his parishes.

Being a true Godly man and kind soul, he believed all deserved to know the Lord. During his 37 years in Eastern Montana, he became a familiar face to all. Father Tobin was born a competitor, growing up playing soccer in Ireland, and then becoming an avid Notre Dame fan. He would always keep his parishes informed on Notre Dame’s wins and losses. Golfing became a passion for Father Tobin whether it be on the golf course, driving from behind the church to the BHS football field or driving rocks from the high spots of Medicine Rocks. Father Tobin had a bigger-than-life personality, and he made a tremendous impact on the people of Eastern Montana.

Father Tobin moved to Ekalaka and continued to celebrate Mass daily at St. Anthony after his official retirement in August of 2015. Father Tobin was recognized as “Priest of the Year” by the Montana Knights of Columbus in 2019, honoring his impact in Montana over the 60 years he had been a priest.

Father Tobin asks that all, “Laugh and Rejoice, I say it again REJOICE! I’ll be watching you guys.”

Father Thomas Tobin will be greatly missed by all those he so greatly influenced, especially those of Eastern Montana.