James “Jim” M. Turpin age 75 of White Sulphur Springs

James Monroe Turpin, Jim or Jimmy to his friends and family.

On the evening of August 30, 2016, Jim passed away at Bozeman, Montana from a heart attack. Jim was 75 years old.

Jim was born on January 29, 1941 in White Sulpher Springs, Montana to Jesse Monroe Turpin and Estella Agnes Knerr Turpin. He was born at home with a midwife, Gladys Johnson attending. He was the youngest of three children.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Duane Turpin, his sister Pauline Hert and his son Christopher Turpin.

Jim is survived by his wife if 30 years Kathleen (Kate) Turpin and his special friend Vera Sickich, daughter Angelia Gregg, son James C. (Gina)Turpin, sister-in-law Betty (Jack) Dwyer, nieces and nephews Ryan (Cherie) Beeman, Paige Beeman, Donald (Keyanna) Turpin, Debra (Darrell) Otte, Doris (Chuck) Blattler, Diana (Dermot) Robinson, two grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Jim grew up in wild Montana fashion with freedom to roam whenever he chose. Very early on Jim would fold up the leftover pancakes, shove them in his pocket and take off exploring with fishing pole in hand.

At 5 1/2, they brought Jim to town to start school. He spent the day punching everyone who got near him and wouldn’t talk. The teacher told his mother to take him home and socialize him and try again next year. He had never seen kids his own age and so many people at one time. He liked to say he grew up with a path instead of a bath!

Those wild ways stayed with him as he grew up and his love of the outdoors was his spiritual expression. He was always into something and loved to tell stories. His friends say he could make you feel as if you were right there with him in those adventures!

Jim’s father played the fiddle all around the county and instilled in him a love for old time country music that stayed with him no matter where he was living.

He was the youngest of three children of Jesse and Agnes. Duane and Polly (Pauline) were older than Jim and were gone from home by the time he was 14 and his father passed away. Jim and his mother moved onto town. He helped her support the family baking pies in the wood stove for local restaurants and cooking at the hospital.

He still found the time for wild weekends with all the trouble, I mean, fun, those White Sulpher Springs boys could find.

Jim graduated high school in 1959. He joined the navy, serving aboard the USS St. Paul in the Vietnam era. He was proud of his country and proud to be active as an American Legion Chaplain at Post 25 in his home town. His friends have always been important to him. He was loyal, kind and cared deeply for those he befriended. Even in these last years he celebrated life and continuing adventures with his friends from his school days and his navy chums.

After his navy service, he spent a year or so rodeoing and then decided he better start earning his keep and took a job with Department of Defense contractors as a radar technician in the aerospace industry. He liked to tell people he always worked for the “lowest bidder”. His jobs took him all over the world and the US working on military test ranges. The most exotic posting was Kwajalein, Marshall Islands where he spent five years. This was the site of his best fish story, catching a 157-pound Marlin. The fish was so big it’s tail and nose extended out over each side of the boat. He could honestly say, “it really was this big”.

Jim retired from his nomadic life style and worked for Verizon Wireless as a cell site technician until his second retirement in early 2000’s.

Jim was a loving, giving man who adopted many children throughout the years. He has provided his support and guidance for a few months or a few years, whatever was needed. He never turned away anyone who was in need. He spent 15 years playing flyball dog sports and training dogs. He liked crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and playing card games.

Jim moved back to White Sulpher Springs several years ago. He was happy to be back in his Montana. His health flourished in the weather, so much cooler than the last 18 years in Yuma, Arizona. He spent many happy days producing beautiful wood pieces with his scroll saw, fishing with Vera, his nephew Donald, Keyanna and many other friends.

Jim was the kind of guy who could make you so mad in one instant and then have you laughing in the next. He loved deeply and was deeply loved back. He always lived with a Montana cowboy heart. His philosophy was to live life with lots of experiences, have incredible stories and love as much as possible. He took everything in stride and was known for his smile and laughter.

He will be remembered as a special character by the many many people whose lives he touched.

Jeff Foxworthy (one of Jim’s favorites) said, “Look at where Jesus went to pick people. He didn’t go to the colleges; he went to the fishing docks.”

Keep your line in the water, Jim.

Services will be Thursday, September 8, 2016, 1 pm at Stevenson-Wilkes Funeral Home in White Sulphur Springs, Montana, military honors at the cemetery immediately following, family and friends to gather at the WSS Community Center after services. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to American Legion Post 25 or White Sulphur Springs Community Senior Center. A guest book is available online at www.stevensonwilke.com.

A special thank you to the doctors and staff at Mountainview Medical Center and Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital for their excellent care and to Vera Sickich for her constant support.

Service Schedule

Celebration of His Life

1:00 pm

Thursday September 8, 2016

Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

103 E. Garfield

White Sulphur Springs , Montana 59645

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Burial with Military Honors

Following Celebration of Life

Thursday September 8, 2016

Mayn Cemetery

White Sulphur Springs , Montana 59645

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Coffee & Cookie Hour

Following Graveside service

Thursday September 8, 2016

Senior Center

101 1st Ave SE

White Sulphur Springs , Montana 59645

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