James “Jim” Wilson

James “Jim” Wilson (74) passed away on March 6, 2016 at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.  A gathering of family and friends will be on Saturday, March 12, 2016 from 2:00 to 5:00pm at the Senior Center in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

Jim was born to Vera and Vernon Wilson on the 23rd of July1941 in Scottsbluff NE.

 He was a sod buster- bronc rider- jockey-airman-millworker-equipment operator- logger- road builder- but retired as a glass man, go figure. Life brought Jim to Bonners Ferry, but serendipity brought him to Don’s Café every morning when he got off shift to have lemon pie and Chili. It was his pallet that brought him his wife of nearly 50 years. Ruth Ann Leslie was working in the kitchen slinging hash and just had to meet the Chili and lemon pie for breakfast-guy. 

Ruth Ann and Jim were married April 6th 1966 and they raised their kids in Boundary County, the mountains were adopted by the former flatlander and he claimed Boundary County as his home.

Jim believed in many things:” this road will come out somewhere”, “the best kind of pie either had one crust or two” and he stood behind everyone he cared about and he cared deeply for many. His backbone was straight, and unwavering much like the Flag he defended. His military service was as much a part of him as were his roots in Nebraska. He was a doer of things, no job was beneath him: if it needed done, he did it no questions asked. He was part of the generation who believed in Apple Pie and the Flag and a cold beer after a long hard day’s work.

Jim, Jimbo to his sisters and brothers also had a nickname for everyone he cared for. In our family everything that was fixed was Jimmy-rigged. We call that Wilson vernacular- Jimmy could rig anything and often did.  His pallet was not limited to Chili and lemon Pie- He liked good grub- and he wasn’t afraid to be adventurous- “You gotta come out & try this” meant he was cookin’ something up, maybe even alligator.   He was Santa for many years, and had a lap for many generations of kids who will always remember him in a long white beard and red suit.

He was the eldest of 7 brothers and sisters.

Sister, Audrey (Keith) Adams, kids: Shelly (Lloyd) Michell and Terry (Paul) Eden. Brother, Bruce Wilson. Sister, Annie Wilson. Sister, Dorothy (Ben) Anderson kids: Tammy (Wally) Barton and Ted Anderson. Sister, Bonita Willoughby daughter: Bobbi (Michael) Liddy, Debra (Lee) Tuott kids: Brandon (Giovana) Tuott and Dani (Kirk) Steinhorst. Brother: Vern (Kristy) Wilson kids: Becca (Will) Crockett, Ryan Wilson and Rachael Wilson. Sister-in-law Carol Townsend, kids: Elmo Townsend, Rhonda Odem LeRoy Townsend, Elizabeth Smith. Brother in law Gene Buffin son Gene Buffin  Sister in law Patricia Miles, kids: Patsy Miles, Donna Miles, Walter Miles and Lori Blockhan. Brother in law Steven Leslie kids: Michael Leslie and Anaka Smith.

Annie, Bruce, and Dorothy all were taken from us much too early as was Jim. Jim’s Nieces, Nephews and grandchildren were his pride and joy and his grandsons were his best friends and hunting partners. Jim and Ruth Ann’s children; Shawn (Darek) Watt, of Kalispell MT Children: Jacob, Casey and Colton- and Kelly Wilson of Rathdrum Children: Kilee, Karee, Kaydee and Emma.