James P. Goeres

February 14, 1965-June 5, 2024

The Family of James Goeres invites you to attend the Celebration of His Life on Saturday, August 3rd at 1:00pm at the Lemmon American Legion following a private family burial on the Goeres farm.

James Patrick "Jim" Goeres was born on February 14th, 1965, in Eugene, Oregon to Clifford and Georgene Bond. Georgene was later united in marriage to Vern Goeres in 1968, moved to South Dakota where Vern was raised, and Jim was subsequently adopted by Vern in 1970. Jim attended his first years of school in South Dakota while Vern and Georgene resided and worked on various ranches in the community. Jim had many stories about mean chickens and stubborn Shetland ponies and other mishaps he had in the country as a young boy. He continued his education in a variety of schools throughout the United States including Oregon, Arizona, and Alaska while Vern and Georgene traveled for work. Even as a kid, he was known for creating his own side gigs, including selling tickets to win a case of pop and pocketing the proceeds! The Kenny Lake School in Alaska was a particular favorite of Jim's many school experiences.  He participated in ice hockey, baseball, and of course, recreational fishing which became the primary love of his life!

Jim finished his Junior High and High School years in Lemmon, SD. After graduating High School in 1983, Jim enlisted in the United States Navy. He completed his basic training in Orlando, FL and for the next 3 years worked as a Signalman on the USS Midway in Japan, visiting ports such as Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, and all over the Western Pacific. After the Navy, Jim spent time back and forth from the amusement show industry to working on the farm in North Dakota.

As a heavy equipment operator in many capacities, Jim had that traveling spirit and traveled all over the United States while on Seismograph crews throughout Texas, California, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. He was well versed in the operation of pumper trucks, rollers, and all kinds of oil patch operations. He had many adventures with his long-time friend Mike Kochel, who was his over-the-road side kick on many of these adventures.

In 1996, Jim started dealing cards in Deadwood until returning to his favorite childhood memories of living in Alaska. He spent several years working in the plumbing industry, but the fish were calling! He moved out to the peninsula on the Kasilof River and felt like it was a little bit of heaven to be out on the water! These were some of his favorite days! He loved salmon fishing, flipping reds, halibut charters and about any kind of fishing you could do! He did some guiding and then his entrepreneurial side took over! He started his own food truck business and what a business it was! He called it the "My Big Weiner Snack Shack" and the fishing guides and fishermen came for miles around for his chili, burritos, and big wieners! His slogan was "cuz everybody likes a big wiener"!

After an amazing run in Alaska, he returned to the Dakotas and spent many more years fracking, excavating, and operating heavy equipment for several energy and oil field companies. He lived off and on with his sister Kelly and loved having that special time with his Niece Emilie and Nephew Zachary. It is some of their favorite memories coming home to Uncle Jim in the kitchen making his award-winning spaghetti!

Jim began to feel a bit of the hard labor catching up to him and drew from that entrepreneurial spirit once again! Jim was definitely known for "wheelin' and dealin" and his big business "ideas"! He took to the road in 2013 with his ND Sticker Bus Business. He loved learning about this business from his Uncle Chuck Goeres and after Chuck's passing, he decided to give that life a try! With the help of his special cousins, Nita, and Julie O'Donnell, he traveled around with his "Sticker Bus" throughout the United States operating his own vinyl decal business and he specialized in all those things you can only say—with a sticker! People looked forward each year to his return to his prime spots and were entertained by Jim and his colorful sentiments year after year!

After 6 years out on the road in the "Sticker Bus", Jim decided it was time to return home and finally settle down to experience life off the road. He took various jobs locally including the sale barn, chopping sileage and working in feed lots until his health began to deteriorate.

Jim was an avid reader of all things and seriously loved deep discussions on any subject! He was passionate about many things and had a soft spot for the "underdog"! He was a straightshooter who was not afraid to say it just "like it was"! He enjoyed fishing with the locals and spent many, many days fishing with his nieces and nephews! He really enjoyed cards, cribbage and what he would just call "BS-ing" with neighbors and friends!

Jim passed away at West River Health Services in Hettinger, ND, on June 5th, 2024, after a lengthy battle with several health issues.

He will be missed by his family, friends, and especially by his Nieces, Nephews, Great Nieces, and Great Nephew that always held a very special place in Jim's heart and he in theirs.  They will miss the many hours fishing and being entertained by Uncle Jim! He will also be missed by so many that loved running into Jim and hearing his colorful stories. He will always be known for having "catch phrases" and one-liners that would catch you on the spot and leave you with a smile!

He is survived by his Father, Vern Goeres of Elgin, ND; Sister, Kelly Fitzgerald (Dana) of Milesville, SD; Brother, John Goeres (Julie) of Elgin, ND; 2 Nephews, Zachary Baxter (MJ) of Philip SD, John Logan Goeres of Dover, NH; 3 Nieces, Emilie Hesby (Tyler) Lake Preston, SD, Jorja Goeres of Elgin, ND and Jadyn Goeres of Elgin, ND; 3 Great Neices, Avery, Hattie and Ramsie Hesby; 1 Great Nephew, Waylon James Baxter; and special friend, Donna Abrams, Deadwood, SD and the Alaskan Bond Family.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Georgene Goeres; Biological Father, Clifford Bond; Grandmothers, Laurentina Goeres and Emily Burdick; Uncles, Chuck, Anton, and Ross Goeres.