Jim Flynn McCauley, 86

Jim Flynn McCauley passed away at the Bee Hive Homes of Kalispell on Dec. 3, 2020, of dementia.

Jim was born May 1, 1934, in Havre to John A. “Mac” and Margaret K. “Maggie” McCauley, where the family ran the McCauley Plumbing and Heating business for many years. He was graduated from Havre High School in 1953 and attended Montana State College in Bozeman in 1954. Jim was a member of the Montana National Guard before enlisting in the Navy in 1955, where he attended the Class A Shipfitter School and served on the AKA90 Attack Cargo ship Whiteside and the AR7 Heavy Duty Repair ship Hector. After being honorably discharged in 1959, he joined the family plumbing business in Havre.

In 1960 he helped to organize the Hill County Search and Rescue, serving the unit for five years, and he participated in searching for lost hikers, hunters and children, as well as assisting in scuba diving for the recovery of drowning victims.

He and Donna Knettel Mangold were married Aug. 18, 1973, at St. Gabriel’s Church in Chinook. After moving to Swan Lake, he joined the Swan Lake Search and Rescue unit and became a life member, having served there for 18 years.

Jim worked for the Montana State Prison Work Camp at Swan Lake as maintenance supervisor for nine years and when the work camp became a boot camp, he became a drill Instructor for the Swan River Boot Camp for one year before retiring in 1984.

Jim had many hobbies but especially enjoyed woodworking.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife Donna and stepson Audie.

He is survived by three of his stepchildren, Steven Mangold of Graham, Washington, William Mangold of Chinook, and Debra Mangold of Swan Lake; nine grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Cremation has taken place. Burial for Jim and Donna will be held Friday, April 2, with a family memorial service.