James Julian Fangsrud
courtesy photo
James Fangsrud
RONAN — James Julian Fangsrud, 87, passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 15, 2015.
Jim was born on DeC. 3, 1927, in Milnor, North Dakota, to Rudolph and Louise Fangsrud. He grew up on the farm, the oldest of nine children: Beatrice, Jewel, Roger (Donna), Armand (MaryAnn), Marvel, Henry, Fran and Sandy.
Jim married Marlys Edgerton of Cayuga, North Dakota. They were later divorced. Together they had seven children: Larry, Kathy (Lynn) Wyum, Jewel, Virgil (Sharon), Marko, Carol (Roy) Lacey and Alan (Jean).
Jim moved to Arizona where he met and married Jane Powers. They had two children: Jimmy (Debbie) and Janet (John) Kravetz. In the mid-sixties they moved to Ronan, Montana, where Jim fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a builder. Jane passed away in 1994.
In 1995, Jim married Jenni Remien and gained two stepsons: Chance (Janel) Remien and Rhett (Cori Jo) Moore.
Jim has been blessed with 18 grandchildren and, at last count, 19 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Jim worked hard but he also loved to play. His great love was the outdoors—hunting and fishing. He tried to get anyone and everyone to go to Tiber Reservoir for walleye. For Jim, there was no other fish or pond to fish in. Later in his life, he was an avid skier, golfer and world traveler. He traveled in the U.S., Australia, Africa, Europe, China, SE Asia and Russia just last September. He hunted in Canada, the Arctic, Africa and Kyrgyzstan. He was so proud to be one of the oldest to ever climb to the Tiger’s Nest Temple in Paro, Bhutan, in 2012 when he was 84.
But in all of that, nothing was greater than his “Hunting Safari” to eastern Montana with his son Larry and best buddy, Dave Broberg. They spent many hours telling tall tales with Jim and John Bolstad in Malta.
At Jim’s request there will be no memorial service. It was his wish to have his ashes scattered over some of his favorite hunting, fishing and hiking spots in Montana.
“Life’s journey is not to arrive safely...but to skid in sideways....”
