Jim Dupont, 1946 - 2012: Community remembers friend, leader

James “Jim” Dupont’s funeral service was filled with as much laughter as sadness.

With all but a few pews filled, friends, family, co-workers, law enforcement, emergency agency personnel and government officials gathered at the Christian Center in Kalispell Saturday to share the life, the talent and the humor of a person who wasn’t afraid of anything — except snakes.

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry and former Kalispell Police Chief Frank Garner hosted the funeral by recounting the many qualities that made Dupont a beloved and respected leader to all who knew him.

Garner, who retired the same day in 2006 when Dupont stepped down as sheriff, thanked Dupont’s family for the sacrifices they made for years to support Jim’s career in law enforcement.

“For those who need a monument to Jim, all you have to do is look around because you’ll see you are the legacy of Jim Dupont,” Garner said.

Curry had served as Dupont’s undersheriff for 15 years.

“Each of us are here because Jim touched our life in some way. Jim was taken from us unexpectedly and far, far too soon,” Curry said.

Dupont died March 19, at the age of 65 in his West Glacier home. Dupont had been involved in Flathead County since 1978 when he worked as a sheriff’s deputy. He later served 16 years as sheriff, then was elected county commissioner in 2008.

Born in 1946, Dupont began a lifelong commitment to public service at a young age Curry said.

“It may come as a surprise to some people in the room, but Jim was an altar boy,” Curry said to appreciative laughter from those who were familiar with Dupont’s robust sense of humor.

“Over the years, he was the victim and perpetrator of more practical jokes than we have time here to discuss,” Curry said.

But jokes aside, Curry said he learned more about being a good cop and leader from Dupont than from anyone else, including Dupont’s reminder that they were not just law enforcement officers, but peace officers.

“Jim was not just a popular sheriff, Jim was a great sheriff,” Curry said. “He was charismatic, honest, fair, consistent and had the pretty rare, uncanny ability to apply good old-fashioned sense to almost any situation.”

Dupont was also remembered as a member of many organizations such as the Lions Club International and Rotary International. He helped out for many years with the Special Olympics. He dove into the frozen waters of the Whitefish Penguin Plunge and donned a poodle skirt all in the name of charity.

Garner met Dupont as a 17-year-old. He was a waiter at an Evergreen restaurant that Dupont frequented. It was during this time that Dupont talked to him and convinced him to consider a career in law enforcement.

“He changed lives. He changed mine,” Garner said. “He encouraged me. He invested in me.”

He described Dupont as a man of character and deep conviction.

“Dupont had the profound ability to find solutions where others saw barriers,” Garner said, but both men also had the ability to find humor in everyday life.

Garner joked that he himself “found a solution to a barrier” while paying Dupont a visit in the hospital a couple of years ago.

“He was dressed in a little gown and a smile. The gown had this ‘open in back’ [style]. I saw an opportunity where other people saw barriers. I took my phone camera out and started taking pictures,” Garner joked. “I said you can get your copies off the Internet just like everybody else.”

Garner spoke to Dupont’s good communication skills in working with other officials and the media, even in times of crisis.

“I’d talk with him all day during the week and I’d get in my car to go home and turn on the radio and he’s doing an interview,” Garner said. “Then, I’d get home and turn on the TV and there he was again and I’d change the channel and there he was again.”

He added that Dupont always made it clear where people stood with him. Everyone who knew him called him a straight shooter.

“Jim we will miss you,” Garner said before asking everyone to bow their heads in a final prayer.

The public was then given the opportunity to share their memories of the late commissioner.

Dupont’s brother, Tony, shared the pride he had in being his brother:

“My brother Jim was genuine. He was the real thing. I’m going to miss the openness we had and the brotherly love we experienced.”

Daughter-in-law Brandi Roth held back tears as she spoke on behalf of the family, thanking the community for its outpouring of tributes and support.

“I’m not only honored to be part of his life, but to be part of his family,” Roth said. “We knew him as a legend, a leader and friend. We knew him as the true family man that he was.”

What Dupont may have considered as part of his job, was regarded as heroic to many people like Kalispell resident Julee VanVoast. He had cared for her and her children after they were taken to the hospital after surviving a terrible boating accident in the late ’80s.

“He saved me that day, just looking into his eyes. He is always going to be my hero,” VanVoast said.

Lake County Commissioner Bill Barron attested to the kindness that expanded beyond county and state lines. During the years Barron served as a new sheriff with a tight budget, he said he had no idea how to scrape together enough money to replace the department’s aging vehicles. Dupont had planned to auction some of his department’s excess vehicles and asked if Barron had $2,500 in his budget.

“He picked out five cars and gave them at $500 a piece,” Barron said.

Sheriff’s deputy and family friend Ray Young remembered the kindness Dupont showed to his co-workers above and beyond the job. Dupont had helped Young when his father was ill more than a year ago and then again after his father died.

“He dropped everything and said let’s meet for coffee,” Young said.

And people like Doc Harkins, a former Kalispell detective in the sheriff’s office, remembered Dupont’s humor.

“Jim had an uncanny ability to say things to you that made you laugh that if anybody else would say to you, you would have shot ’em,” Harkins said.

Curry summed up many thoughts on people’s minds during the service by saying:

“Jim, you’ve been a friend, a mentor, a teacher, a co-worker, a loved one to every one of us in the room here today. You loved your wife Su a great deal and your family a great deal. I just want you to know that we miss you.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.