Jim Ginther, age 72, of Ray, ND, formerly of Lemmon, SD, passed away on Sunday, February 16, 2020 at Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck, ND.

James Leo Ginther was born in Bismarck ND June 30, 1947 to Peter F. Ginther and Martha Jean (Rick) Ginther. Jim was the second of five children. He attended St. Mary's grade school and graduated from Lemmon High School.   He was active in football and wrestling, placing 4 ^th in the state for wrestling when he was a senior. As a young boy Jim enjoyed working on the family ranch north east of Lemmon SD breaking horses and raising registered Galloway cattle.  After graduation he worked for local ranchers and in the oil field.

He married Diane Olsen in 1969 and was drafted into the army and was stationed in Germany for 4 years. They returned to Lemmon and worked with his dad on the ranch until they moved to California it was there he learned to fly. In 1981 they divorced and Jim started managing a large remote mountain ranch in Arizona where he was able to put his flying and horsemanship skills to good use, hauling people and supplies to remote cow camps. He married Shelly Mishler in 1983 and returned to Lemmon working as a contractor for local farmers and businesses and driving semi's for local trucking companies. There they began their family with the birth of daughter Alexis.  His son Dylan was born after they moved to Prescott AZ where Jim worked in construction.   When he and Shelly parted he married Paulette Butterfield.  He married Rhonda Bialik in 2006, they lived in AZ, MT, TN and SD before settling in Ray ND where he worked as a contractor, drove truck and heavy equipment in the oil fields.

Jim was a man of many talents and made friends everywhere he went. He loved spending time with family and friends, and enjoyed dogs, horses and flying small planes.

He is survived by his wife Rhonda;  Daughter Alexis grandsons Daniel and Dawson, granddaughter Brylee (Globe AZ);  Son Dylan (Lyndee) grandsons Jaxson, Justen, and James (Haydon, ID);  Step daughters Michelle Collier and family (Powers Lake ND);  and Gretta Collier and family ( Aberdeen SD); Step daughter Chela Butterfield (Tempe AZ.)  Three sisters, Karen (Fred) Beer (Lemmon SD); Meg (Dave) Schell (Meadow, SD); Beth (Fred) Haberkern (Los Osos, CA); one brother Mike (Siblut) Ginther (Lemmon SD), Step brothers Greg (Cathy) Peterson (Morro Bay, CA); Daryl (Jackie) Peterson (Brandon, SD); Step sister Diane Aspengren (Albany OR) and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Parents Pete and Martha Jean, Sister In-law Kay Ginther, Stepfather Blair Peterson, Step brother In-law Dale Aspengren, Shelly and Paulette.