Thomas R. Hecht

Thomas R. Hecht, 52 of Broadwater, passed away at home with family by his side Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014.

His funeral service will be held on Wed., Sept. 17, 2014 at 2 p.m. at the Broadwater Fire Hall in Broadwater with Pastor Leon "Bud" Gillespie officiating. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. A potluck dinner will follow at the fire hall. Visitation will be Tuesday from 1 to 8 p.m. at Bridgeport Memorial Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Broadwater Volunteer Fire Dept or Festival of Hope. Tributes of sympathy may be left at http://www.bbchapels.com. Bridgeport Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Tom was born Jan. 28, 1962, in Dalton to Bob and Norma (Frickey) Hecht. He grew up in Broadwater, graduating from Leyton High School in 1980 then attended Western Nebraska Technical College in Sidney.

Tom married Valerie Brown on May 25, 1984. The couple made their home in Broadwater and had two sons, Andrew and Alan. Tom owned and operated "Tom's Garage" in Broadwater for over 30 years.

Tom started with the Broadwater Fire Department in 1991. He became Chief in 1995. In his later years Tom enjoyed putting up hay on the family farm.

For recreation Tom was involved in pick-up pulling. In more recent years Tom was influential in organizing and creating the lawn and garden tractor pulling in the community. He enjoyed collecting guns and used them to watch things explode. He also was an avid collector of Allis-Chalmers tractors.

Survivors include his parents Bob and Norma, brother, Mike (Caren) of Broadwater, sister, Deb (Dave) of Rapid City, sons Andrew (Kelsey) of Gering and Alan (Ally) of Broadwater, grandchildren, Colton and Bentley, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. And many friends and loved ones.

Preceded in death by his grandparents T.M. and Etta Hecht and Marshall and Lillian Frickey, aunt Dottie Frickey, uncle Roy Frickey, cousin Devin Frickey.