James David Cass

James David Cass - aka Jdad, JDude, Jpa, Papa, Grandpa, Uncle Jim, Juncle Im, Favorite Brother, Dad, Faughter, and Husband - if you asked him, was just JD and he joked that it meant Juvenile Delinquent, and his wife joked it meant Junk Dealer. He entered the presence of His Savior in the wee hours of April 29, 2026, with a big YeeeeeEEeeehaaaaaaaWW! He no doubt greeted His Savior with a Howdy Ho as he found a comfy spot next to the river that flows from the throne.

JD was born October 15, 1945, to David and Naomi Cass and grew up milking cows on a farm in Ohio. He was always outfitted in beautiful homemade clothes made by his four older sisters (Nancy, Fran, Dayle, and Janet) and was his dad's faithful helper. He played center in high school football where his best friend was the quarterback, and they worked out a system of signals they still used on Facebook up until recently.

He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at around 10 years old alongside his cousin Lee, who was more like the brother he never had, and has had strong faith ever since – fortified with three trips to Israel where he walked in what was likely the very steps of his Messiah, Yeshua.

He married Nonna Levering on New Year's Eve in 1966, and they moved to Texas for his stint in the U.S. Air Force. A Vietnam vet, he never deployed but he kept B-52s flying as a parts orderer working 16-hour shifts.

He knew what he wanted – to study wildlife management, and what he didn't – to study a foreign language. They moved west in a 1967 Sunbeam Tiger II, Nonna being three months pregnant, and landed at Utah State University, where he completed his BS degree in 1974. By that time they had two boys, Traber and Cody. They packed up their 1959 Willys Overland Wagon and headed for Alaska. After two and a half weeks of travel, he discovered the Forest Service and Fish and Game had no openings, so he took a job on a dairy farm, milking cows, and found a way to help a Christian aviation mission to Inuit peoples.

The time in Alaska came complete with a successful and adventurous moose hunt with some Ohio family. On that hunt, his brother-in-law Ed Hetrick kept talking about a youth ranch he wanted to help get started in Montana. The job scene hadn't opened up in Alaska so he left his forwarding address as General Delivery, Great Falls, MT, and packed up and drove the 2+ weeks back. In Great Falls, two letters were waiting from the Forest Service and Fish and Game, wanting him to interview. He decided, "I'm not going back," which is why he raised his kids in Montana. They never complained about that.

The summer of 1974 found them touring Montana looking for a spot for the ranch. It never did pan out and Ed needed help with harvest, so they moved to Ohio. In the Spring it was back to Montana, where he landed a job as a wilderness guard which led to a job as an elk hunting guide in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Several more moves and jobs found him in need of more stable work. A daughter, Fawn, joined the family on the first day of Spring in 1979. During Christmas break of 1983, the family moved from Clancy to Havre where he started with the State working in water rights. That ten-year position ended after three years. He had promised his kids he wouldn't move them again. His son's best buddy's dad helped him get a job with the railroad where he would retire 20-some years later, having kept his promise.

In retirement, he bought not one but two motorhomes, formerly unheard of for him, tooling around with Nonna and visiting the kids in Montana, Oregon, and Idaho.

JD was....Random. Not normal. Generous. No one knows the number of unique & Holy Spirit-led acts of kindness that were carried out in his 80 years. His testimony and leadership produced a family that all walk with the Lord today. He was adventurous and confident even as he navigated occasional struggles. He never knew a stranger and anyone was a candidate to be invited to Sunday dinner.

JD is survived by his wife, Nonna; sons, Traber (Linda) and Cody (Jana); daughter, Fawn (Michael) Stephens; 9 grandchildren who were the light of his life (Olivia, Hailey, Rylan, Naomi, Evan, Tyler, Isaiah, Kalem, and Adria); one great granddaughter, Selah, who even outranked them and a great grandson on the way. He led his family to Yahweh, his legacy lives on, and if you were to talk with him today he would want to know if you know Yeshua.

A service will be held at Fifth Ave Christian Church in Havre on Friday, May 8, at 11:00 AM. He would want you there. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Please visit JD's online memorial page to send a card or leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.