James 'Jim' Barry Nygaard, 59

James “Jim” Barry Nygaard “was called home to be with the Lord” at sunset on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2010, at his daughter’s home in Kalispell.

Jim was born Oct. 28, 1951, to Henry and Elsie Nygaard in Kenmare, N.D. When he was young, his family moved to Pablo where he attended school in Pablo and Ronan. From there, he served in the U.S. Army at White Sands, N.M.

He worked at Ronan Sports and Western for many years and was one of the best shoe salesmen around.

Jim had a kind, loving and generous nature, enjoyed recounting stories, and possessed his sense of humor all the way to the end.

He enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing, and he had a fascination for weather and kept weather logs for many years. Family was especially important to Jim, and his granddaughter Emma brought him great joy.

He is survived by his daughter, Tarah Hosking, her husband Brendan, and granddaughter Emma, of Kalispell; mother, Elsie Nygaard, of Trout Creek; sister Dyan and Bruce Lawrence of Missoula, and sister Myrna and Gordon Roesler of Nevada, brother, Richard, and Twila Nygaard, of Trout Creek; sister-in-law, Virginia Nygaard, of Ronan; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by father, Henry Nygaard; and brother, Jerry Nygaard.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, at the Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Polson with the Rev. Kyle Whaley officiating. Reception to follow.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com. The staff of Grogan Funeral Home, Polson, considers it a privilege to care for Mr. Nygaard’s family.