James Roy Billmayer

James Roy Billmayer was born May 7, 1928, to Mabel (McGuire) and Roy Billmayer in Harlem, Montana. He passed away on March 1st, 2025, at Sweet Nursing Home in Chinook.

Jim lived a very full life. He worked hard from the time he was a young man, growing up on the family farm. He graduated high school in Harlem and attended college in Missoula for a short time. He and Helen were married on May 18, 1949, in the Hogeland Lutheran Church. Last spring they celebrated 75 years of marriage. Their son Gene was born in Havre. He joined the Marines and was stationed in San Diego. Their daughter Linda was born down there. Jim was on the Battleship Missouri, as a ship-going Marine. He was a long time member of the Hogeland American Legion.

Eventually they moved back to the Big Flat. Sons Larry and Mark were added to the family. Helen's parents and grandparents were homesteaders, and he ended up taking over their land and buying more as other adjoining land came up for sale. He was a great example of someone with a strong work ethic.

Along with working hard though, he also managed to play hard. Hunting was his real passion. Packing into the Bob Marshall Wilderness was something he loved to do. Later he and Helen joined an organization called The Friendship Force and travelled all over the world with it. They would stay in people's homes in lots of different countries and then invite their hosts to come and stay with them. Their last big trip was to Peru. After that they bought a home in Arizona where they spent a good part of every year for almost 30 years, coming home in the summer so Jim could enjoy harvest on the Big Flat.

About three and a half years ago, they sold their Arizona home and moved to Timbercreek in Havre. The fall of 2023 they moved to Sweet Nursing Home in Chinook. Their family will be forever grateful for the kindness of the staff there.

Jim is survived by his wife Helen, son Gene (Susan), daughter Linda (Bum) Petrie, son Larry (Leta), and son Mark (Betty), 9 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Mabel, siblings John, Frank, Lois Alcorn and Doris Egbert, daughter-in-law Kris, and grandchildren Emily and Alex.

Memorials are suggested to the Hogeland Lutheran Church or the Sweet Nursing Home, or the place of your choice.