Stevenson & Sons Funeral Homes

Serving families in the Miles City, Forsyth, Lame Deer, Broadus, Circle, Jordan and Terry areas for three generations.

For Immediate Help Call
Miles City: 406-232-4457 — Forsyth: 406-346-2311

In Memory Of

James L. Leidholt, age 90, of Miles City.

January 30, 1934 – October 17, 2024

On October 17, 2024 James LaVern Leidholt, age 90, of Miles City, MT. passed away at the VA Community Living Center.

James was born Jan. 30, 1934 at Wason Flats, Garfield County, MT. to Karl and Rosina (Bauer) Leidholt. James was the youngest of 13th children. The home had an unfinished basement, no electricity, running water or other amenities. The only water source was a deep hole dug in the ground. A pail attached to a rope was used to retrieve the water. Needless to say there were times that “critters” ended up in the water. The home was not large enough to house all 13 children. Some of the older siblings lived nearby in another building.

Jim started his education at Tree Coulee School. He spoke only German. His teacher, Miss Jansen said that every year another little kid came over the hill who couldn’t speak English. Jim’s mom never did master the language. When Jim was a second grader his family moved to a house in Yellowstone Valley on Sam Leo Road. Jim attended Kircher school and graduated from Custer County High School in 1952.

Jim enlisted in the Navy in 1953. He served as a machinist on an icebreaker the USS Staten Island. He was on board during Operation Deep Freeze II when Ellsworth Station was built at Antarctica, South Pole. Jim was honorably discharged June, 1957.

On July 14, 1957 Jim married Jessie Brown at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Miles City. Jim began work at the VA Hospital as a nursing assistant. In 1958 he began his college education at Eastern Montana College (now MSU-Billings). It was during this time that his only daughter, Victoria Lynn, was born at the Deaconess Hospital in Billings, MT. Jim made Jessie wait in the hospital parking lot until after midnight so there wouldn’t be an extra day charge. In 1961 Jim finished his schooling at Montana State College in Bozeman, now MSU-Bozeman. He received a BS degree in nursing. After working for one year at the Ft Harrison VA hospital in Helena, Jim was accepted into the Mayo Clinic Anesthesia school at Rochester MN. Jim worked very hard on his education so he could provide for his family. During this time Jim’s oldest son, Eric James, was born at St Mary’s Hospital on July 06, 1963. Jim was doing private duty nursing (to help pay the bills) when the neighbor brought Jessie to the hospital. Cora McCoy Brown, Jessie’s mom came and helped care for Vickie. The family lived in a 10 by 52 foot trailer home at this time. It was very crowded and they lived there for 3 years. Jim graduated from the school of anesthesia in 1964 and accepted employment at the Rosebud Community Hospital in Forsyth. MT. The duties of hospital administrator were added one year later. It was during this time that Jim borrowed a saw, got a loan and built their first home. Jim was a “jack of all trades” and worked very hard. The plumbing inspector said the plumbing was done different than usual but it would work and passed it. During his administration a new hospital was built in 1971. It was during this time that his youngest and last child was born. Gregory Todd was born on July 16, 1971.

In 1975 the family moved to Miles City, MT where Jim was employed at the VA Hospital as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Later, under Dr. Jorgenson, Jim was given additional responsibilities of administrative assistant. Jim retired in 1994.

After retirement Jim enjoyed being “Papa” to his only grandkids BreAnn and Todd Leidholt. He truly loved being “Papa” and was very active in their life.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents Karl and Rosina, his brothers Leonard, Robert, Philip, Edwin, Julius, Eugene, and Adolph. His sisters; Martha, Tillie, Peggy and Alma.

Jim is survived by his wife, Jessie, daughter Vickie Davidson (Oscar), sons, Eric, and Greg Leidholt (Tanya), grandchildren BreAnn and Todd Leidholt, sister Vi Howe (John); and numerous nieces, and nephews.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2024 and family will be receiving friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Son’s Funeral Home in Miles City, MT. A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 25, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Stevenson & Son’s Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will be held at the Eastern Montana State Veteran’s Cemetery. Condolences can be made to the family by visiting stevensonandsons.com.

Service Schedule

Family to Receive Friends

4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Thursday October 24, 2024

Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home

1717 Main Street

Miles City, Montana 59301

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Funeral Service

11:00 a.m.

Friday October 25, 2024

Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home

1717 Main Street

Miles City, Montana 59301

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Interment with Full Military Honors

Friday October 25, 2024

Eastern Montana State Veteran's Cemetery

Miles City, Montana 59301

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Luncheon

12:00 p.m.

Friday October 25, 2024

The Parlor

1806 Main Street

Miles City, MT 59301

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Service Schedule

Family to Receive Friends

4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Thursday October 24, 2024

Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home

1717 Main Street

Miles City, Montana 59301

View map

Funeral Service

11:00 a.m.

Friday October 25, 2024

Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home

1717 Main Street

Miles City, Montana 59301

View map

Interment with Full Military Honors

Friday October 25, 2024

Eastern Montana State Veteran's Cemetery

Miles City, Montana 59301

View map

Luncheon

12:00 p.m.

Friday October 25, 2024

The Parlor

1806 Main Street

Miles City, MT 59301

View map

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Memories

Read the thoughts and memories, then feel free to add your own.

  1. Jessie, I’m so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with the Leidholt family in this difficult time. Jim was a good man and will be missed..

  2. Jessie and the Leidholt Family, we are so sorry to hear about the loss of Jim.
    Your thoughts and prayers are with you all in this difficult time. Know that he is at peace and without pain. Jim will be missed by all who know him. Keep your memories of him in your heart.

  4. So sorry to hear about Jim. I got to know Jim when he was hauling silage into Solaris Feedlot. Jim always had a smile on his face. He was a really great person and always had time to visit when we would run into him around town.
    REST IN PEACE JIM
    Jim and Annalise Willson

  5. Jessie & Vi. I am so sorry for your loss. May the Holy Spirit engulf you with comfort.

  7. Dear Jessie & family,
    How I will miss this sweet man. It was always a joy to see him at our front door bearing a gift of freshly caught fish or to simply stop and visit. Always a helpful and thoughtful neighbor, he was our friend. Prayers for you, Jessie. You did a wonderful job of caring for him so many years. Love, Mary Ann

  9. Jesse’s and family so sorry to hear you lost Jim you are in our thoughts and prayers.

  10. Jessie, Vickie, Eric, Greg, & family, God bless Jim. He has done so much in his life. He did very well providing for the family. So glad you were able to be here Vickie in his last years. Take care. God bless you all during this difficult time.

  11. Sending my condolences to the Leidholt family. Jim was one of the best landlords around. He always kept everything fixed and took great care of you. Such a nice person , he will be missed. 🙏

  12. Sending my condolences to the Leidholt family. Jim was one of the best landlords around. He always kept everything fixed and took great care of you. Such a nice person , he will be missed. 🙏

  15. THE FRED NEUHARDT FAMILY WERE CLOSE NEIGHBORS TO THE LEIDHOLT FAMILY== AT CROW ROCK, MT====ARVOLD==ALVIN==LEAH==OTTO ATTENDED TREE COULEE SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME==A HISTORY BOOK COULD BE PUBLISHED==VI AND ELVERA==OTTO’S WIFE STILL HAVE SOME GOOD VISITS ABOUT THE GOOD OLE DAYS

  16. Jessie sorry for your loss. Jim was a good friend and I enjoyed working with him at the VA . He will be greatly missed Mary Moore

  17. Jim was one funny guy. I enjoyed serving his meals at the VA. The Never Ending back and forth about him eating lunch in his room so he could watch The Bold and the Beautiful.🤣❣️ Deepest condolences to his family. Rest in peace Jim.

  18. I enjoyed serving him so much at the VA. We gave each other a lot of Guff. The never-ending back and forth when he ate lunch in his room so he could watch The Bold and the Beautiful.🤣❣️ heartfelt condolences to the family. He was one nice guy. Rest in peace Jim.💜

  19. Jessie & family
    My parents Howard & Vera Lee were neighbors in forsyth!
    Very good friends!
    Garth Lee
    Forsyth mt

  20. Dear Jessie and all of Jim’s family;
    I am so sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. I remember some pretty good stories that Dad would tell about Jim when they were out fishing, lots of shenanigans, I believe.
    Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; Love leaves a memory no one can steal. My prayers to the family.

  21. Your Jim was such a fun guy, Jessie. He loved to tease me (even though he knew he would get it right back). I have such great memories with the both of you. Love you friend Jessie and thinking of you. As ever, Jackie

  22. Your Jim was such a fun guy, Jessie. He loved to tease me (even though he knew he would get it right back). I have such great memories with the both of you. Love you , my friend Jessie, and thinking of you. As ever, Jackie

  23. My condolences to Jim’s family. Jim’s commitment to caring for veterans was readily apparent everyday in his professionalism and expert delivery of patient care.

  25. Jessi and family, so sorry to hear the passing of Jim. We never over come the loss of a love one. We learn to live with the loss of a loved one. Keep your treasured memories alive.

  27. Jessie and family, so so sorry to learn of your loss of Jim. I knew Jim for alot of years working the VA in Miles City. He was always a great guy to have around and so good to his patients. Have some great memoires of some times together. May he rest in peace. Your all in my thoughts and prayers. Linda (Stevens/Valley) Meidinger.

  30. So sorry for your Loss Jessie to you and your family! Glad I got to give you a proper hug today! Your Husband was a resourceful family man and hard worker and achieved many things. God Rest his soul! Hugs , thoughts and Blessings to you all in your sorrow.

  33. Vickie,
    We are sorry to hear of the loss of your father. May your memories bring you comfort.

  34. Jessie and family, So very sorry to hear of your loss.May your many memories comfort you!
    Gary and Linda Anderson

  35. Jesse and family:
    On behalf of the A. G. Lee family, our thoughts are with all of you. We have fond memories of our folks playing bridge and Eric playing with Travis. I remember doing my first aid boy scout merit badge with Jim. When I had my tonsils removed, Jim came in and explained the procedure. While I was scared, he made me feels safe. Jim, RIP

  36. Dearest Jessie, Vickie, Eric and Gregory,
    As I read Jim’s obituary tears rolled down my face. I remember the first time in 1964 I met your family. You made me part of your family as Vickie and I played together and I spent so much time at your house. Jim was always so quiet when he came home but I always felt good vibes from him. It was wonderful to see him in 2015 and a couple of times after.
    Being and adult and seeing him in action with Vickie & Eric as we took the kayaks to the lake. RIP Jim. You are well loved!

  37. Jessie and family. Sorry to hear about the passing of Jim. A lot of memories to remember.

  38. Jessie and family
    We are so sorry for your loss. Prayers for comfort and peace in the days ahead.

  39. Jessie and family, our deepest sympathy at your loss. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Jim was such an enjoyable person,he kept me in line with insurance. My heart goes out to you.

  40. I have so many good memories as we graduated from high school together. He was always friendly and a good person. May God bless your family.

  42. Jessie and family. I’m so sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. He was a pleasure to know at the VA. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

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