Funeral service: Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at the Powder River Congregational Church in Broadus.
Interment: Valley View Cemetery in Broadus.
James Harvey Jim Bowers, Sr.,age 88, of Broadus passed away on Sunday, May 25, 2008 at the Billings Clinic in Billings.
Jim was born at Beulah, Wyoming on May 5, 1920, the son of James Harvey and Amalia (Reinhold) Bowers. He attended elementary school at the rural Houston Creek School and at Sundance High School. Jim boarded in Sundance during the school week and worked at the local post office. He would walk home on the weekends and return with his dad by horse and wagon on Monday. After graduation, Jim returned to the ranch. When Jim was just 19, his dad died so he worked to take care of his mother and two sisters. In 1951, Jim purchased the Bill Leitner Place from Jim Russell. Jim remained on the ranch until health problems in April 2008 sent him to the Billings Hospital and then to the Valley Health Rehabilitation Center.
Jim married Eleanor Schunk of Cincinnati, Ohio on December 27, 1952, in Cincinnati. Jim was a great family man. He loved anything involving the family, especially the holidays with everyone at home together. He liked having his kids and grandkids working with him on the ranch. He was a great reader and liked card games of any kind, especially with the grandkids.
Jim enjoyed all facets of ranching including irrigating, haying, riding horseback, moving cattle, improving stock water; but especially the cattle whether it be looking at bulls or weaning calves. Jim bought a plane and learned to fly after the winter of 1949 when the snow was so deep in Sundance the only way to get around was by plane. Jim was a Lifetime Member of the Sundance Lodge #9 A.F. and A.M., Life member of the National Rifle Association, served on the County Planning Board for a number of years and was on the Huckins School Board during the time his children were in school. Jack Jeakins and Jim were instrumental in getting the county yards and scale in Broadus. Jim recorded the weather for the National Weather Service for 45 years.
Jim is survived by his wife Eleanor of the family ranch; two sons: James Jr. (Kathy) Bowers and Tom (Carla) Bowers of the family ranch; a daughter, Susan (Dennis) Schaefer of Billings, MT; two sisters: Lois (Wilfred) Kennedy and Margaret White both of Sundance; three sisters-in-law: Lillian Supe, Agnes Greber, Vera Schunk all of the Cincinnati area; one brother-in-law, Morris (Carol) Schunk also of the Cincinnati area; four grandsons: Bill and Tyler Bowers and Mike Bowers of the family ranch; Matthew Schaefer of Billings, MT; three granddaughters: Sherry Bowers of Bozeman, MT; Kristy Bowers of the family ranch; and Melissa Schaefer of Billings, MT. He was preceded in death by an infant son, his parents James Harvey Bowers and Amalia Reinhold Bowers, a step-father Wyman Bushnell, twin granddaughters, one sister Helen Ellard, four brothers-in-law: Albert Hoeweler, Elmer Supe, Carl Greber and Herman White and one nephew James Ellard.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Broadus. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at the Powder River Congregational Church in Broadus. Interment will follow in the Valley View Cemetery in Broadus. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City has been entrusted with the arrangements. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.
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