Brett Allen Thoft
courtesy photo
Brett Thoft
PABLO — Brett Allen Thoft, 33 of Wasilla, Alaska, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 16, doing what he loved; flying airplanes through the countryside he grew up in.
Brett was born on Feb. 2, 1981, in Missoula and grew up on his family’s ranch in Irvine Flats outside of Polson. At a young age, Brett learned to work hard, and riding in a helicopter with good family friend Ron Gipe fueled his passion for aviation. In his teens, Brett purchased a Piper J-3 cub and earned his pilot license. He flew that J-3 back and forth across the Mission Mountains to Helena while attending college for aviation mechanics.
After receiving his certifications, Brett followed his dreams to “The Last Frontier.” He guided big game hunters, fishermen, and flew Super Cubs. His love for Alaska grew with every hour he flew and every hunt he guided.
Brett logged over 5,000 flight hours and most of them were ‘Alaska time.’ He logged countless hours in the Brooks Range, Wrangell Mountains, Dillingham area, the furthest tip of the Alaska Peninsula, the remote island of Nunivak, and one of his jobs even took him all the way to Juneau. He loved his trip to Juneau and back because he got to fly alongside his lifelong pal, his brother Matthew.
Brett was happy to have the love of his life Nicole Stanley, also a Polson native, by his side through everything. Brett and Nicole, along with their beautiful daughters Amy, age 6, and Alyssa, age 4, started Full Curl Aviation based out of Wasilla, Alaska, and grew it into a very successful family-run business. Being an air-taxi around the state, guiding in some of the most remote places, and growing a reputation for his meticulous airplane mechanics, Brett took great pride in his two airplanes; an M7 Maule and a Piper Super Cub, two of the many things that helped carry him through his countless adventures.
Brett will be flying high with his grandparents Robert Thoft, Sr. and his wife Alice, Fred ‘Friendly Hearted’ Peters and his aunts Joan McKeen and Jane Peters.
Brett will proudly watch over his wife Nicole; and his two daughters Amy, age 6, and Alyssa age 4; his parents Bob and Susie Thoft of St. Ignatius; his brother Matt (Emily) Thoft of Palmer, Alaska; his sister Stacey (Greg), his niece Sayre age 3 and nephew Dalton Plimmer age 6 months, all of Elizabeth, Colorado; his grandmother Dorothy Peters of Rathdrum, Idaho; and countless cousins, aunts, uncles, and lifelong family friends.
A celebration of Brett’s adventurous life will be held on Dec. 27, 2014, at the Ronan Community Center starting at 1 p.m.
Brett’s girls Nicole, Amy, and Alyssa were the center of his world. In lieu of flowers, a donation account has been set up at Glacier Bank in Nicole Stanley’s name. You can also donate funds to help the family out at www.gofund.me/fullcurlaviation.
Brett lived a lifetime’s worth of adventure in his 33 years. Some people live their whole lives afraid to pursue their God-given talents and passions. Brett was one who boldly pursued and perfected them: family and flying. He will forever be greatly missed in our skies. Messages of condolence may be sent to: www.groganfuneralhome.com.
