James A. Gunlikson, 81, passed away peacefully Wednesday night, Jan. 28, 2009, after three hospitalizations with pneumonia.
A funeral mass was held in Lakewood, Wash., on Monday. There will also be a funeral mass for him in Shelby at St. Williams’ Church on Friday, Feb. 6 at 11 a.m. with burial to follow at the Shelby Cemetery. A rosary will be recited at the Whitted Funeral Chapel in Shelby on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m.
James “Jim” was born to Oscar and Madonna (Brannon) Gunlikson in Fargo, N.D. on May 13, 1927. Jim cherished his memories of good times at his grandparents’ farm in Zahl, N.D. His family moved to Montana in the late 1930s. He married Melba White, his high school sweetheart and they graduated from Shelby High School in 1945.
Jim served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific until the end of WWII. He and his father owned and operated the Rainbow Conoco in Shelby. Jim sold John Deere farm equipment for Conrad Implement for years before opening his own farm and ranch real estate company. In 1992 Jim and Melba moved to Lakewood, Wash., where two of their children reside.
Jim was a man of great hope and faith. He was loved by all who knew him.
Jim is survived by his loving wife, Melba (White) of 64 years; and their four children and their spouses Judy (Paul) Swortz of Lakewood, Geni (Mick) Laden of Cut Bank, MJ (Jeff) Thurston of Lakewood and Skip (Laurie) Gunlikson of Belgrade; 10 grandsons and one granddaughter; four great-grandsons and eight great-granddaughters; his brother Richard (Leslie Ann) Gunlikson of Kalispell; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.