James L. Kujala

Jim's tireless work ethic was rooted during childhood on a small Montana homestead ranch. It was forged in his first off-ranch job at the smelter in Anaconda, where he had his first knee injury, and then logging at his uncle's sawmill in Wise River.

Before he retired, he shouldered huge public responsibility during his career monitoring Bonneville Power stations, but perhaps his life is better defined by his personal passions and humanity.

Jim was the World's Best Dad to his family, and an all-around best friend to people who earned his respect. He was an eager skiing and fishing partner into his 80s and a lay minister for 45 years. Nurses at the blood bank knew his veins as surely as the streets to their office.

The Inland Northwest Wildlife Council distinguished Jim as a Master Hunter. He harvested his first bull elk at age 13 and notched at least one elk tag in Montana or Washington every year after that (with two exceptions for medical reasons) until he bagged his last bull in 2023 at age 82. And that's not even what's most impressive about him.

Starting in 1996, he volunteered to salvage edible big game meat by collecting, field dressing and skinning appropriate roadkill to feed the needy through charities such as the Union Gospel Mission.

Jim's physical assets made him a standout in wildlife conservation volunteer circles. Like his Montana brothers, he was strong enough to fill a sled with a bull elk and drag it out of the mountains. He thrived on getting up in the wee hours of the morning and was on-time or more likely early for every mission. He could walk circles around just about anybody, except his daughters who backpacked with him in the Beartooths. He knew his way around tools big and small and could fix just about anything - contributing to his survival in more than a few backcountry breakdowns.

In recognition of his decades of extraordinary service in a wide range of wildlife conservation projects, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife employees renamed their annual top assistance honor the "Jim Kujala Volunteer of the Year Award." A model sportsman/conservationist, Jim was a regular in projects that ranged from removing barbed wire at state wildlife areas to trapping and tagging deer for research.

He was an elite fisherman who always shared his catch with family and people whose lives would brighten with a fresh trout fillet from Lake Roosevelt. He loaded students in his boat for outings to teach them fishing techniques. He became a regular at Kid Fishing events to clean donated trout, pack them in ice and deliver to food banks. He was a reliable contributor to the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center.

He imparted goodness and responsibility by action and example. Words his family lists to describe him include integrity, love and compassion, humility and forgiveness, contentment, dependability, determination, discernment, reverence, orderliness, kindness, patience, punctuality, initiative, gratefulness, truthfulness, adventure, and wisdom.

After passing peacefully in the company of family, Jim has been reunited in heaven with Pat, his wife of more than 60 years. He is also preceded in death by his brother Roger Kujala. He is survived by brothers Howie Johnson, Bob Johnson and sisters Sandy McLean and Karen Dykstra. Jim and Pat also are survived by two daughters, Lori Helgeson and Kathleen Brodin, 5 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

A celebration of Jim's life will be held at One Church Spokane 15601 E 24th Ave., Spokane Valley, WA 99037 on May 3rd, 2025, at 2 p.m. followed by a potluck.