James LeRoy LaPlante

James LeRoy LaPlante, 91, passed away from natural causes on December 16, 2025 at the Northern Montana Care Center in Havre, Montana. Services will be held Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 11:00 AM, at the American Lutheran Church in Chinook. Graveside service will be held at Kuper Memorial Cemetery following the service.

James (Jim) was born on July 29, 1934 to John Moberg and Jenny Murvang Moberg in Malta, Montana. His little sister, Mert, joined the family two years later on September 7, 1936. Disaster struck the family four days after Mert was born, when Jenny died. After a few years, Jim's grandparents moved with Mert to Idaho, while he stayed in Malta with his father, John, who was in the National Guard. When his father got called to Washington, Jim stayed in Malta and was adopted by Frank and Sophia LaPlante on July 1, 1940, at the age of 5.

Jim attended Malta schools and graduated in 1952. Upon graduating from high school, Jim attended Northern Montana College for one year and then joined the United States Navy, where he attended Electrician Mate School. He was then assigned to the USS Orleck DD 886, a destroyer, and it became his home for the next 3½ years. During his time in the Navy, he fought in the Korean Conflict and was able to see different parts of the world including Pearl Harbor, Guam, Hong Kong, Wake Island, Japan, and many others. When Jim got back to Malta, he married his first wife, Dawn Armstrong on June 23, 1959. In February of 1961, Jim's first daughter was born, Tambra. Jim and Dawn were later divorced. After Jim's stint in the Navy, he joined the Army National Guard in Montana in November of 1960. Also at this time, Jim graduated from MSU with a teaching degree and taught in Loring and Glasgow, MT. It was here in Glasgow where Jim met the love of his life, Sharon (Giese) LaPlante. Jim and Sharon were married on October 21, 1972. Together they had a daughter, Jennifer, born on June 19, 1976 and a son, Joseph, born on May 18, 1981. After Joe was born, Jim took a job in Chinook working as OMS Sergeant in the Montana National Guard and the family moved the same year.

Jim proudly served his country first as a member of the United States Navy and later in the Army National Guard. His years of service shaped him into the strong, honorable man that so many of us came to admire.

Jim was a dedicated and loving husband and father to his wife, children and grandfather to his grandchildren. He truly enjoyed his elk hunting trips each fall and of course bowling league. Jim had an incredible way of making each person feel special and loved. His wisdom, guidance, and sense of humor will be deeply missed by his family and all who knew him.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Sharon; daughters Tammy(Greg) Anderson of Boise, Id, JenniferWade) VanNess of Eureka, MT; and son Joe(Toni) LaPlante of Havre, MT. Jim is also survived by his grandchildren, Matthew and Elizabeth VanNess of Eureka, MT.