The Mass of Christian burial for Jim Jonas, age 74, of Lemmon will be 10:30am Monday, September 4, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon with Fr Brian Fawcett and Deacon Gene Morman officiating.


Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery with full military honors afforded by the Brattvet Green American Legion Post #66 of Lemmon and the Smith-Lyman American Legion Post #279 of Thunder Hawk.


A wake service will be held at 7:00pm on Sunday evening at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.


Serving as casketbearers are Andy Geiser, Harvey and Lyle Goeres, Joe and Josh dela Motte; Gust Hanson, and Tuff Jonas. All who walked with Jim are considered honorary bearers.


Special music will be provided by Bart and Gillian Damjonovich.


JAMES JOSEPH JONAS "Jim" was born March 22, 1932 at Gilstrap, ND. He was the second oldest of six children born to Nicholas and Mary Eva (Schaaf) Jonas. As a young child he attended grades one through eight in Sioux Co., ND and continued his education through working on the family and neighboring farms. He grew up in the Ft. Yates area later moving north of Morristown in 1948. Jim loved barn dances and family gatherings. As a child he took his younger siblings to the Lemmon Roller Rink and enjoyed being their big brother.


Jim enlisted into the US Army on 17 June 1952 in Fargo, ND. He served in the Artilery and the 82nd Airborne Division having done basic training in Ft Sill, OK and then traveling to Ft. Benning, GA for paratrooper training. He was discharged on 1 June 1954 at Fr. Bragg, NC.


On February 3, 1967, he married Cherylene Egland in Rapid City. This union was blessed with four children. Jim began working for Bob Schnell at West River Livestock Market and continued with the sale barn until he retired after 35 years.


Jim was involved with the Lemmon Boss Cowman Rodeo for 35 years. He was an avid member of the Brattevet-Green American Legion Post #66 in Lemmon and the Smith-Lyman American Legion Post #279 of Thunder Hawk. Jim was proud to help with the life-long achievements of the Lemmon Jr. Livestock Show. He enjoyed being with family and friends, telling stories, dancing, fishing, but most of all he enjoyed time spent with his children and grandchildren. He was looking forward to being a great grandfather for the first time. Collecting coins, unusual rocks, and working with wood were his passionate hobbies.


Jim passed away on Wednesday afternoon August 30, at West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger surrounded by his loving family. He will be sadly missed by his family and friends.


Surviving family members include his wife, Cherylene, Lemmon; 1 son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Cathi Jonas, Gillette, WY; 2 daughters, LaShawn Foulkes, Gillette, WY; LaStella Hanson, Gordon, NE; 9 grandchildren, Kes, Gus, Mel, and Cori Hanson; Joe and Josh dela Motte; Bailey, Tuff, and Jazmine Jonas; 1 brother and sister-in-law, Leonard Jonas and Carol Preszler, Lemmon, SD; 3 sisters and 1 brother-in-law, Angeline Gieser, Mandan, ND; Mary Goeres, Dickinson, ND; Julia and Frank Wysk, Lemmon, SD; 1 sister-in-law, Arlee Miller and her husband Don, Lincoln, NE; and numerous nieces and nephews.


He was preceded in death by his parents, 1 son Jeffrey Jonas; 1 brother and sister-in-law, Adolph and Koreen Jonas, 2 brothers-in-law, Matt Gieser and Leonard Goeres; 1 niece Joan Gieser, and 1 nephew Glenn Goeres.


A memorial has been established.