Thomas J. Archibald "Tom", 73, of Lava Hot Springs, ID, died from complications of bile duct cancer on February 21, 2011. Tom was born on March 27, 1937 in Hartsville, SC, one of eight children of Bartholomew and Mary Lyon Archibald. The family moved to Norwich, CT in 1946. He attended St. Mary Elementary School and was a 1955 graduate of Norwich Free Academy. He enlisted in the Air Force following high school. Using his GI benefits and working at Safeway, he graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Accounting, and began his government civil service in the early 1970s. He achieved a Master's Degree in Public Administration from American University and for many years was Director of Navy Industrial Fund Accounting in Washington D.C. He was Comptroller of the Naval Air Warfare Center in Point Mugu, CA when he retired from government service in 1993.

He and Kathy met in 1985 and despite being an avid sailor on his beloved Chesapeake Bay for 20 years, they moved to land-locked Idaho in 1993 where he took up cattle ranching with the same determination he displayed in his previous profession. His daughter and son, Sara and T.J., say "thank you for being a stay-at-home dad, and for letting us have such a wonderful childhood in Lava…for always coming home with two of everything when you went out to get just one puppy, bunny or pony, teaching us to ski, drive in snow, coaching all of our soccer and baseball teams, making us work on the ranch even when we didn't want to; we can't fathom a life where all those times with you are in the past. Thank for giving us our most cherished memories and for showing us a loving marriage is possible; you and mom are soul mates."

His wife Kathy will miss him very much. In addition to Sara and T.J., Tom is survived by his step-daughter Tara and her husband AF Tech. Sgt Jesus Lopez (currently deployed), and their children Joshua and Jasmine, all of Lakewood, WA (who will miss Grandpa Tom, especially for letting Josh shoot his first rifle and Jasmine her first horse ride). Tara wrote: "you gave me two of the best things I could ever have… Sara and T.J. One of the proudest moments in my life was having you walk me down the aisle when I got married. I am proud to be called your daughter and I love you very much." He was also very loved and happy to recently reunite with his daughter Jennifer Archibald of Frederick, MD and meet his grandson Tristan. Also surviving is his oldest daughter Christine Bernstein of MD; brothers James Archibald of Bridgeport, CT; Raymond Archibald of Jewett City, CT; Bart Archibald of Stratford, CT; sisters Mary Donnelly of Moosup, CT and Ann Petro-Roy of Chelmsford, MA; along with more than 44 nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Charles and Joseph.

The family would like to thank Dr. Mills and Pocatello Care & Rehab for their compassionate end-of-life care. We especially thank PA Cara Drury and the nurses and staff at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center, who showed Tom and his family much kindness during his 38 days in the ICU. And, of course, we thank and appreciate Dr. LeGrande Belnap, who gave us three more years after his first surgery and did everything humanly possible to save Tom.

A Funeral Mass on Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 10:00 am will be conducted by Father John Worster at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Lava Hot Springs, and will be followed by Committal Service at graveside with military honors. Friends and family are invited back to the Church for refreshments. In lieu of flowers, Tom would appreciate donations to your favorite charity, or the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. Cremation and memorial services were arranged with the kind help of Sims Funeral Home.

"Missing you gets easier every day because even though it's one day further from the last time I saw you, it's one day closer to the next time I will."