James Wain Fleming

James Wain Fleming, age 85, passed away peacefully on Dec. 21, 2007, at Eagle Cliff Manor. Jim was born on Dec. 15, 1922, in Butte, Mont. to Wain and Irene Pollari. Jim's mother passed away when he was two years old and he was raised by his grandmother Margaret Fleming in Red Lodge, Mont. The family moved to Billings where Jim graduated from Billings High School in 1940.

Jim loved sports and played on the Broncs basketball team. Jim attended one year at Carroll College where he was a quarterback on the undefeated football team. Jim then moved to Washington D.C. and worked for the F.B.I. as a mail clerk until joining the Navy in October of 1943. He served in WWII as a radioman aboard a transport ship in the Philippines.

After the war Jim married his beloved wife Betty Keefe on April 18, 1947. They made their home and raised their family in Billings. Jim worked for Carter Oil, now Exxon/Mobil, as a lab analyst for 38 years, retiring in 1985.

Jim loved sports and was an avid hunter, fisherman, bowler and golfer. Jim started refereeing football and basketball in 1950. It turned into a lifelong passion until he retired in 1983. He was subsequently elected to the Montana Officials Association Hall of Fame in 1985.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Betty (2007), and his loving daughter Diane (1988).

Jim is survived by sons Mike (Carol) Fleming of Huntley and Steve (Betti) Fleming of Boise, Idaho; grandsons Craig Fleming, Curt (Jamie) Fleming and great-grandson Aidan all of Billings.

We would like to thank Highgate Senior Living for the loving care they gave Jim for the past three years, Eagle Cliff Manor for the last several months and Rocky Mountain Hospice for their loving attention during Jim's time of need.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., on Friday, Dec. 28, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.

Condolences may be shared with the family by going to www.michelottisawyers.com