James Blair

 James Stephen Blair “Jim”, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2024, after a short battle with cancer. 

Memorial service will be Friday, February 23, at 2:00 pm at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church.

Jim was born May 18th, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. He graduated from Oilmont High School in 1961, and went on to Junior College in Rochester, MN. He enlisted with the United States Army in 1962, and was in the Officers Candidate School in Fort Benning, GA. During his service to our Country, he married his “Bride” Marleen (Doughty) Blair. In January 1964, they welcomed their first-born son, Jon. After an injury, Jim was honorably discharged from the Army in 1964, and returned to their roots in Montana. Soon after they were blessed with their second son, Steve in 1966. They moved to Rochester, MN and in 1967 they were blessed with their third son, Eric. In 1968 they moved back to their home state of MT.

Jim was a man of many talents, after working for Schlumberger, he went on to receive his Sheet metal Journeymen’s license in heating and cooling. In 1976, they settled in Shelby MT, where Jim opened his diesel repair shop, Big Sky Repair. In 1991, Jim suffered a burn accident changing his life forever, and finished his career as a heating and cooling Journeyman until he retired in 1997.

Jim is survived by his wife of 60 years, Marleen Blair; son, Jon Blair (Lori); grandchildren, Steven Blair and Shelby Blair, all of West Fargo, ND.

He is preceded in death by his sons, Steve and Eric Blair; his parents, Ralph and Jeanette Blair; his brother, Raymond Blair; and his sisters, Luanne Holst and Wendy Hermanson.