Jim Mitchell Jim Mitchell, 88, a long-time Bozeman resident, passed away peacefully on Nov. 2, 2023. Jim was born in Orleans, NE, on Dec. 3, 1934. He attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. He married the love of his life, Bernie, in January 1958 in Colorado Springs, CO and was then drafted into the Army, where he and Bernie spent two years in Germany. After military service, he moved to Hardin, MT, and worked at Bullis Mortuary. He left Hardin to attend mortuary school in San Fransisco and returned to Hardin when finished. In 1973, he joined the ownership group with Howard Nelson and Rex Troth at Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service in Bozeman. Jim became sole owner of DokkenNelson in 1986, where he remained until his retirement in 2010. He served as the President of the Montana Funeral Directors Association from 1981-1982 and was recognized for his 50 years of Funeral Director Service in 2014. Jim was a member of First Presbyterian Church for 50 years, where he served as an Elder and Deacon and sang in the choir. Jim served on the Bozeman School Board for six years and was a huge supporter of Bozeman Senior High School sports and music programs. He was Past President of the Bozeman Symphony Society and sang in the Bozeman Symphonic Choir for many years. Jim was Past President of the Bobcat Booster Club and loved his Bobcats. He wouldn’t miss a game and planned trips to visit his kids and grandkids around Bobcat games. In 2003, Jim received the Community Excellence Service Award for outstanding service to the community and university, which recognized his numerous contributions to Montana State University and the city of Bozeman. Following retirement, Jim served on the Bozeman Schools Foundation Board, where he helped raise funds for the Willson School Auditorium renovation. He was passionate about his volunteer work at Love In the Name of Christ. He was an avid reader and loved to travel, fly fish and spend time with his kids and grandkids. Jim is survived by his wife, Bernie, of almost 66 years; daughter, Andrea (Blane) Edwards; son, Jim (Amy) Mitchell; sister, Joyce (VT) Miller; grandkids, Keaton (Breckyn), Hannah and Logan Edwards and Henry, Oliver and Maggie Mitchell; special friends, Chris, Monica, Taylor and Ashley Remely; and numerous nieces and nephews. Should friends desire, memorials in Jim’s name may be made to Love INC., P.O. Box 7117, Bozeman, MT 59771 or at loveincgc.org. montanafda.org | 17
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