James Carlson

Jim (James) E. Carlson went home to be with the Lord Monday, November 11, 2013. He passed away of an aortic dissection. Jim was born August 8th 1946 in Great Falls, MT to Ernest and Evelyn (Zeigler) Carlson. He lived in Choteau all of his life, graduating from Choteau High School in 1964. Jim went to college for 1 year at Northern Montana College taking up diesel mechanics. Then in November of 1965 he joined the Army National Guard, serving 6 years, spending time at Fort Ord, CA and Aberdeen Proving Ground in Baltimore, MD. He was honorably discharged in November of 1971. In September of 1970, he married Karen Gefeller and together they farmed the family farm for years and raised Limousin cattle. In order to support his farming habit, he had many side jobs including custom combining and swathing, selling Anipro-a liquid supplement for cattle, driving school bus, fencing with Charles Durr, working for Fish, Wildlife and Parks on the Grizzly Bear Management Project, for the FSA as a field man, for Cenex Harvest States, and for several crop insurance companies adjusting crops until he went full time with RCIS. He loved his job with RCIS and enjoyed everyone he worked with and for!



Jim was a wonderful Godly man; who loved life, his wife, his daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, brother, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews! He had a bright smile and a kind word for all he met. He loved sports, especially his beloved Choteau Bulldogs and could be found at every home game and most out of town ones. He loved the Denver Broncos and the Montana State Bobcats, but most of all he loved Jesus and his family. He was a quiet example of godliness. He cared about his kids and grandkids and everyone else's. He was a selfless and hardworking man. The world has lost an awesome man who will never be forgotten.



Jim was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife, Karen, devoted daughters, Traci (Adam) Woith and Shelby (Ron) Daley all of Choteau. Grandchildren: Chase (Cherri) Woith of Seattle, WA, Chelsie (Dan) Horacek, Madi and Christian Woith all of Choteau, Lexi Daley of Bozeman, Ronald Daley of Fort Eustis, VA, Dakota, Delani, Tony and Kruz Daley all of Choteau and one great granddaughter Kennedy Horacek of Choteau. His brother Wayne (Judy) Carlson of Dillon, sisters-in-law Yvonne Paulsen of Conrad and Debbie Anderson of Choteau and brother-in-law Richard Anderson of Choteau.



Visitation viewing will be held Monday, November 18th from 5:00 to 7:00pm at Gorder Jensen Funeral Home. The memorial service will be held Tuesday, November 19th at 11:00 am at New Life Church in Choteau. Interment with military honors will be in the Choteau Cemetery. Online condolences m ay be left at www.gorderjensenfuneralholme.com