Hugh Grant Thayer, 52, died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Sioux Falls on Monday, September 19, 2011. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated in Calvary Episcopal Cathedral on Friday, September 23 at 10:00 a.m. Hugh’s ashes will be reposed in the Columbarium of Saint Thomas Episcopal Church, Abingdon, VA at a later date. Reception of the Body will be at 7:00 p.m. Thursday at Calvary Cathedral. Friends may greet the family in The Commons; and at 8:00 p.m. brief Vigil prayers will be said in the Cathedral. The Very Reverend Ward Simpson, Dean, will officiate. The Reverend Warren Shoberg, ssc will be the homilist at the Mass.

Hugh was born in Roanoke, Virginia on December 18, 1958 to Father Charles and Evelyn Thayer. He was educated at Breck School, Minneapolis, MN; Saint James School, Faribault, MN; and was a 1977 graduate of Fairmont (MN) High School. He attended Bemidji State University; graduated from Jackson (MN) Area Vocational Technical Institute; and had additional college training in computer drafting. Professionally Hugh was a mechanical designer/engineer.

Hugh was an owner/partner in TEK Motorsports specializing in building sprint car engines, enjoyed coaching youth hockey, supported Boy Scout activities, and assisted with sports and music programs at Whittier Middle School and Washington High School. Having served as an acolyte and lector during his life, Hugh was a communicant of Calvary Cathedral, and was elected as a member of the Cathedral Vestry. He was a member of the Monarch Cursillo of the Diocese of Fond du Lac.

In addition to his parents, Hugh is survived by his daughter, Michele Carly Anderson (Norm) of Fairmont, MN; his sons Grant Michael Thayer and Drew Ronald Thayer of Sioux Falls; granddaughters Alyvia Elizabeth Anderson and Amelia Marie Anderson; his former wives Cathy Grove Thayer and Gail Kegel Greeley; and numerous other relatives in the Eastern states.

Honorary pall bearers, his partners in the race team, are Jeff Edgington, Rob Klinghagen, Mark Helming, and Larry Russell.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be sent to Calvary Cathedral, 500 South Main Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104