Jim Jones

James “Jim” Louis Jones was born on May 27, 1966 in Valentine, Nebraska, to Larry and Rose Ann (Gehlsen) Jones. Jim and his twin brother, John, were welcomed home by sister, Michelle. Later the family grew to include Deanne and Valerie.

Jim spent his first years growing up on his grandparents’ ranch south of Mission. In August of 1973, his parents purchased a ranch and moved the family to southern Todd County near the community of Littleburg. Jim loved living in the country and growing up on the ranch taking care of cattle and working in the hayfield. Being in the country meant the Jones kids had to create their own entertainment. The ideas they came up with were not always the safest, but they did manage to keep their parents on high alert.

Jim attended Mission Elementary School for two years and then attended Littleburg Country School for grades second through eighth. His freshman year of high school was spent at Eau Claire Lutheran School in Wisconsin. He returned to Todd County High School the next year and graduated in 1984.

After high school, Jim helped on the family ranch and the family owned bowling alley and lumber yard. One day at the lumberyard, someone brought in a lineman’s belt and hooks to sell. Jim bought them and enrolled in the power line program at Mitchell Vo-Tech. He graduated from the program in 1986.

On November 1, 1986 Jim married Robyn Osburn at Mission. They were blessed with sons, Tyler James, Michael Ray, and Tanner Louis. His children were his greatest joy, he loved being their dad and was always enormously proud of them.

Jim began his lineman career at Cherry-Todd Electric in Mission where he worked for 10 years. In April 1996 Jim accepted a job at West Central Electric as an outpost lineman in Kadoka. Jim loved building line and always accepted the challenge of the storm jobs eagerly as a test of his skills. He was an excellent lineman and always put the consumers first. After 31 years, Jim retired from line work in February 2018.

Staying idle was not part of Jim’s life and he soon started down a new path working for West River Excavation in March 2018. Working at Coller’s shop was a new experience. It was hard work, but it included teamwork and friendship. Working alongside Tanner was the greatest benefit of all. Coller’s provided Jim with flexibility in the job so he was able to spend more time with his family. Last spring, he took seven months to help his father-in-law, Ray, and brother-in-law, Danny, on his ranch south of Wood Lake, Nebraska.

Jim genuinely loved to be with his family. He never missed any of the boys’ games or a rodeo. He loved to be able to help the boys with everything. Whether it was fixing a pickup, welding in the garage, or out riding on cattle, this is where Jim wanted to be. Whenever the boys would pull into the driveway with a trailer, Jim would always check the lights and made sure they were all working before they left. Many times, his phone would ring, and it would be his boys asking questions, needing help, or just wanting to visit, and this always put a big smile on his face.

Jim always felt blessed with having boys, but his heart filled with more love when his sons picked Kylie and Emma to be his daughters. Jim’s love grew even more when Kelton and Raeleen arrived. They melted his heart and he was so proud to be their Papa. He loved to be with them and was anxiously awaiting a new baby girl to snuggle.

Jim and Robyn loved being together. As a family they worked together remodeling their house and so many memories were made. Robyn was always coming up with new project ideas and although Jim may be hesitant at first but would soon realize that she could not do it without him, and he would help her out.

Jim always had time and wanted to help anyone. He had a giving heart and cared for so many. He always made everyone feel welcome at his home and he would travel anywhere needed to help someone out. He will truly be missed by many but will live on in our hearts forever.

Jim is survived by his wife Robyn of Kadoka; sons: Tyler Jones, Michael (Kylie) Jones, and Tanner (fiancé Emma) all of Kadoka; grandchildren: Kelton, Raeleen and Baby Girl arriving in September; his parents Larry and Rose Ann Jones of Mission; brother John (Julie) Jones of Mission; sisters: Michelle Jones of California, Deanne Jones of Omaha, and Valerie (Don) Phillips of Omaha, mother-in-law, Florence Osburn of Valentine; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephew, and cousins.

Jim is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents LE and Florence Jones; maternal grandparents Carl and Josephine Gehlsen; father-in-law, Ray Osburn; sister-in-law, Debra Osburn; and cousins: Craig Reagle and Duane Martin Rahn.