Thomas Charles Edgerly

Beloved Father, Grandfather, and peace officer, Thomas Charles Edgerly, 75, passed away on Friday, October 21, 2022 at Oak Crossing, Detroit Lakes, MN after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Thomas Edgerly was born on December 25, 1946 in Portsmouth, NH, to Charles and Marian Edgerly. Tom was one of seven children. He moved to Fargo, ND as a child so his father could teach at NDSU. Tom spent many summers during his childhood visiting family in New Hampshire.

Tom graduated from Central High School in 1965 and continued his education at NDSU. Tom joined the NDSU football team in 1967 as an offensive tackle. In 2008 Tom was inducted into the NDSU Hall of Fame as a member of the undefeated 1968 National Championship football team. Tom graduated in 1969 with a degree in History Education.

Tom was a member of ROTC while attending NDSU. He joined the military after graduating from NDSU. He was trained as a military police officer. Tom eventually received the rank of 1st Lieutenant while commissioned in the army. Tom served his country in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, Ft. Bliss, Texas, and in Vietnam for 9 months until his unit was deactivated. Tom was honorably discharged in 1972.

After returning to Fargo from his service in the Army, Tom started his career as a police officer with the Fargo Police Department on April 16, 1973. He was a fair, thoughtful, dedicated peace officer for over 25 years. Tom retired from the police department on December 16, 1998.

Tom married Geneva Nelson on March 17, 1973 in Fargo, ND. The couple had 4 children,
Linus Edgerly, Stuart (Megan) Edgerly, Moriah (Jason) Loos, and Ethan Edgerly.

Tom enjoyed history, the law and debating any willing participants. Tom spent many hours reading history books with a special interest in military and US history and politics. As a police officer, Tom would often read and reread city and county ordinances to ensure he was honoring the laws and enforcing them correctly. Tom loved to debate big ideas in history and politics. He was well read and informed, he could argue either side of most debates.

Tom would have been a great lawyer and even better judge, but he chose to continue his lifelong commitment to public service. One of Tom’s comments best summarizes his career as a police officer. When asked if he gave out a lot of tickets, Tom would say “I either gave them a lecture or a ticket, never both”. Tom recognized that as a police officer, he often interacted with people in crisis. He had an acute sense of fairness and deeply respected his role in enforcing the law.

Those that knew Tom saw his keen intelligence, and wry, quick witted sense of humor. Tom was known for his many sayings, or “Tom-isms”. If asked how old he was at any point of his life his answer was 77 or “I’ll never tell.” These sayings often slip through the lips of his adult children, whether they like it or not.

Tom was drawn to and loved the outdoors. Tom loved deer hunting with his sons, fishing with his children and grandchildren, and went camping as often as he could. Tom loved living in North Dakota and loved showing the badlands and Theodore Roosevelt National Park to his children through many camping and hiking trips.

Tom was a man with many interests and hobbies. He loved a wide variety of music. Some of Tom’s favorites include gospel, old country western, bagpipe, and bluegrass. His love for music inspired him to play the banjo and the bagpipes. Tom was a frontiersman at heart. He had a love for leather working, historical guns, and fur hats. Tom loved photography and loved taking pictures of the North Dakota landscape. Later in his life, Tom took up painting and enjoyed watercolor painting flowers, grasses, and anything in nature.

Tom was a soldier, a peace officer and a father/grandfather. He served his country, his community and his family.

Tom is survived by his wife Geneva, Detroit Lakes, MN, his children, Linus Edgerly, Brooklyn Center, MN; Stuart (Megan) Edgerly, Fergus Falls, MN, Moriah (Jason) Loos, Minnetonka, MN; his grandchildren, Linden and Rowan Loos, Olivia and Alex Edgerly; his siblings, Carl (Carol) Edgerly, Bismarck, ND; Richard (Carol) Edgerly, West Fargo, ND; Mary O’Neil, Comstock, MN; John (Monica) Edgerly, Fargo, ND and many nieces and nephews.

Thomas is preceded in death by his son Ethan Edgerly, his brother Edward Edgerly, his sister Alice Edgerly, and his parents.

Tom’s Video Tribute can be viewed below: