James B. Brown

James B. Brown

July 16, 1946 - June 16, 2023

HELENA - Born in the old St. Peter's Hospital on Logan Street in Helena to William A. and Margaret M. Brown, Jim joined sister Cordelia (Cordie) and William (Bill) to complete the family unit. Growing up on the upper west side in the Henry Sieben house provided Jim with an idyllic young life of fun and adventure. In the summer, brothers, Bill and Jim would pack a lunch, grab their BB guns and head for Mt. Helena. In the evenings, there were neighborhood games of Hide and Seek and Kick the Can, apple tree and garden raids and neighborhood badminton tournaments. Winter days were spent on steel-runner sleds, sliding down alleys and streets for blocks and neighborhood snowball fights that ranged around the west side.

Jim attended Hawthorne, Helena Junior High and Helena High schools, graduating in 1964. At Helena High, he was on the Speech team and served as the student trainer for the football, basketball and track teams. He matriculated to Montana State College (which soon became Montana State University) and majored in Architecture. Upon graduation in 1969, he joined the firm of Morrison-Maierle & Associates, and enlisted in the 396th Station Hospital Army Reserve unit based in Helena.

Morrison-Maierle & Associates morphed into Crossman-Whitney-Griffin, P.C. in the 1970s and moved into the T.C. Power mansion carriage house across the street from Jim's boyhood home in 1981. Jim's body of work as an architect included several U.S. West buildings around Montana, 1981 remodel of the Montana Capitol, AAA buildings in Helena, Bozeman, Gt. Falls and Missoula, the "Cube" at Carroll College, additions to Helena Middle and Capital High Schools, and many convenience stores and casinos for the Town Pump Corporations around Montana. One of the more unique projects Jim was proud to be a part of was the investigation, documentation and development of rehabilitation plans for the damages to all the Carroll College buildings from the infamous train explosion in 1989.

Jim was blessed with a lifelong partner, friend and wife, Laura Greiner when they were wed in 1976. They, in turn, were blessed with children Heather Marie and Bradford (Brad) James.

Ever thankful for the support of the Helena community in his youth and professional career, Jim believed in giving back. He joined the Helena Jaycees and served as President and then moved up to State Secretary and was honored to be named a JCI Senator. He then joined the Helena Lions, also serving as President, Sunshine Camp administrator and PlusOptix coordinator for scanning students' eyes in the area elementary schools. The Lions honored Jim's service with a Melvin Jones fellowship. When Brad was in Cub Scouts, Jim served as Cub Master for pack 228. After retirement, he and his wife volunteered at the Montana Talking Book Library for the Blind, repairing the machines and reading, on tape, local books for distribution to the clients. With a firm faith in God's control of his life, Jim was a life-long member of St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral and served as a Lay Eucharistic Minister, Senior Warden, church architect and general handy-man and boiler operator.

Jim is survived by his "bride," Laura; daughter, Heather; son, Brad (Allison); and four grandchildren: Quincey, Kenley, Landon and Leighton. He is preceded in death by his father, mother, sister, and brother.

Jim truly loved Helena and Montana and believed that this was "God's Country." The only place better, is with his Heavenly Father.

Donations in Jim's honor can be made to the Helena Lion's Club, PO Box 1077, Helena, MT, 59624-1077; or to St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Capital Campaign, PO Box 819, Helena, MT, 59624.

Services for Jim will be held at St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral on Friday, June 23, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. Interment will be in St. Peter's Memorial Garden and Columbarium following the service. The family will then be gathering at the Delta Hotel for a Reception from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m., located at 2301 Colonial Dr, Helena.

Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a favorite memory of Jim.