James Hummel of Garrison went to his heavenly home on September 14, 2025, in Garrison ND.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 on Friday September 19th, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garrison ND. Visitation will be held Thursday, September 18th at the Thompson Funeral Home from 5:00 – 7:00 and also an hour before service on Friday.
James was born March 16th, 1928, to Olga Hummel Jungling. He lived a bountiful life. He grew up in the Garrison area on a farm where he worked from sunup to sundown. He enjoyed coming to town with his parents and going to a movie, Geronimo being his favorite. He also liked to ride his horse and set animal traps so he could sell animal skins. He went to school in Garrison. After school he met the love of his life, Ethel Yeager. They married on January 25th, 1948. They lived on a farm north of Garrison and started their family of 7 children. He has worked many jobs in his life and was always proud of his accomplishments. He drove a yuke truck hauling dirt for the Corps of Engineers in the construction of the Garrison Dam. He farmed and drove school bus. The family moved into Garrison and Jim started his blade operator job for McLean County, he worked this job for 30 years. After retiring from the county, he worked as a maintenance man at the Benedictine Living Center. He then worked mowing ditches for the county. He then went to mow ditches for the city, which he loved, and he retired at the age of 93. Jim wasn’t all about working in his 97 years on this earth, he did enjoy life also. He loved to fish and camp. On weekends, in the winter, you would find him and friends playing cards or going uptown on the weekends to dance. He loved his family deeply and would do anything for them. His grandchildren meant the world to him, and he always kept his candy dish and cookie jar full of them. He loved watching old westerns and always kept up with The Young and the Restless. He acquired a little motorized mobility scooter this past spring, and you would find him riding around town with his yellow vest and orange flag, just enjoying life.
James was survived by his children, Mary (Gary) Angell, Garrison, Craig Hummel, Garrison, Peggy Moran, Garrison, Susan Ekstrom, Garrison; 19 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren, 28 great great grandchildren; sister Agnes (Harold) Lindsey; many nieces and nephews and friends.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Ethel; infant son, James Kent, son, Richard; daughters, Janet and Betty Jean; grandchildren, TJ, Tanya, and Michelle; sisters, Donna and Ruby; son in law, Frank Moran; daughter in law, Marlys Hummel.
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