Service of Remembrance for James N. "Jim" Hedstrom, 88, life-long Perkins County, SD farmer/rancher will be Friday, October 6, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Hettinger, ND. Rev. Ilo Madden will officiate and burial with full military honors will follow at the Hettinger Cemetery. Visitations will be from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger and from 9:00 a.m. until the service at the church on Friday afternoon. A family service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening at the church.


JAMES NORMAN "Jim" HEDSTROM was born on April 1, 1921 in a sod house in rural Perkins County, SD to Ludwig and Jennie (Solberg) Hedstrom. He grew up on the family farm and ranch and attended country school near his home. Jim went to high school for one year in Spearfish, SD and then later graduated from Hettinger High School in 1940. He loved playing High School Football. While growing up, he worked on the family farm and ranch with his father and brother, "Hefty". After graduating, Jim went to one year of schooling in Wahpeton, ND to become an aircraft mechanic. After working for a short while in Minneapolis, MN for Northwest Airlines, he enlisted into the US Army Air Corp and was chosen to be a pilot. Jim served his country during World War II in the Pacific Theater as a B-25 "Mitchell" pilot from 1942 until 1946. He flew many missions over Japan and even China. After the war, Jim was honorably discharged and returned home to South Dakota to farm and ranch. He met a school teacher in Hettinger, ND named Muriel Morgen and they were united in marriage on May 5, 1959 in Fortuna, ND. Jim immediately acquired five step-daughters – the "Morgen Girls" and he and Muriel added a son, Stephen, to the family.


Jim was active in many organizations and was a vital part of the black top project on Highway 75. He was a member of the elevator board at the Hettinger Equity for 19 years, was in the Hettinger Toastmasters Club, was on the Fredlund School board and later the Northwest School board and also the Perkins County FHA board. Jim served as the treasurer for Fredlund Township for many years, was on the Board of Directors for the Grand River Grazing District and was an active member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Hettinger, ND and also with the Hettinger Area Chamber of Commerce. Jim and his family lived and worked on the Hedstrom farm and ranch until moving into Hettinger in 1989. Muriel Hedstrom passed away on January 18, 1996.


Jim volunteered his time for six years to listen and read with young children at the elementary school in Hettinger and was awarded the Community Volunteer Award in 2003 for his devotion to the children. Jim loved and remembered all of the children that he met. He enjoyed spending time especially with his nieces and nephews while they were growing up. Jim was truly proud of his grandchildren and cherished spending time with them. He loved to visit with people, was always joyful and optimistic. His glass was always "Half-full", not "Half-empty". Jim moved into the Western Horizons and loved spending time with the people and the staff there. His family wishes to thank Western Horizons, the Clinic and the Hospital staff for all of the care that they have given to Jim.

Jim Hedstrom passed away at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, ND on October 2, 2006.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his son, Steve (Jackie) Hedstrom, Hettinger; his five step daughters, Elinor (Harley) Olson, Loveland, CO, Janet (George) Gordon, Long Beach, CA, Jeanne (Darrell) Henderson, Hettinger, ND, Mary (Pat) Logue, Durham, NC and Linda (West) Kelso, Gunnison, CO; three sisters, Clara Mastrovich, Grand Junction, CO, Helen Holbrook, Seattle, WA and Bertha Marshall, Glendale, CA; 13 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and many friends. Preceding Jim in death were his parents, his wife, Muriel, brother, Harold "Hefty" Hedstrom, sister, Lillian Raney and an infant brother, Lester, four brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law.

Arrangements are under the guidance of the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger, ND.