Thomas Auten, age 69, of Naytahwaush, MN, died Monday, February 26, 2007, in his home.

Thomas Edward Auten was born May 27, 1937, in St. Joseph, Missouri, the son of Volney and Helen (Wolf) Auten. He grew up in St. Joseph where he attended Christian Brothers High School. Thomas was a standout baseball player in high school and later served as the pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodger Farm Baseball Team in Vero Beach, Florida. He continued to play baseball until a knee injury forced him to retire. Thomas then attended Creighton University where he studied business. He was united in marriage to Susan Harris in St. Joseph and the couple made their home in Paola, Kansas. Through this union Thomas and Susan were blessed with five children. While living in Paola, he owned and operated a Ford dealership for several years.
Thomas later married Phyllis Dugan in Osawatomie, Kansas, where they continued to live until her death 12 years later. While in Osawatomie, he began working for the State of Kansas in fire and security. Upon his retirement in 1999 after 20 years of service, Thomas fulfilled a lifelong dream of moving to northern Minnesota. He made his home near the Naytahwaush community since that time.

Thomas loved to buy and sell goods to his friends in the community, which is why he received the nickname "Wheeler-Dealer" by all of his neighbors. Throughout his life, he greatly enjoyed his annual trips to Minnesota. Living up North, Thomas especially enjoyed spending time with his local friends and looked forward to the trips his family made each year to visit him.

He is survived by one son, Joe of Paola, KS; three daughters: Dorothy Barnthowe of Leawood, KS, Martha Carter of Overland Park, KS, and Nancy Kirk of Paola, KS; and thirteen grandchildren.

Thomas was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Phyllis; one son, Steven.