James Jones

James LeRoy Jones, 71, of East Bethel, Minn., died Friday, Feb. 26, 2010 at The Villages of North Branch.

Jim was born Jan. 3, l939 in Walker, to Anton and Dora (Roderick) Jones. He grew up on the family farm, the fifth of six siblings. Jim loved to hunt and fish. He and Grandma Jones did many fishing trips to Horseshoe & Benedict Bridge. He attended school in Laporte and graduated in 1957.

He moved to Coon Rapids and worked at BF Nelson for several years. It was here that he was married and had his first two children. Jim was then employed at Onan’s in Fridley and moved his family to a farm near Princeton. This is where his youngest two children were born. He was a hard worker, often working 16 hours a day, 6 or 7 days a week. On the farm, he raised thousands of chickens, raised acres of corn for his brother Jerry, and in his spare time he remodeled the home they had bought. He was a very skilled carpenter and also a "jack of all trades." He could fix anything and was always ready and willing to help family and friends.

After his retirement, Jim kept busy with gardening and he canned his own tomato and grape juice, and applesauce. He also worked on updating his home in East Bethel and helped Janel and Jesse do many projects around their house.

He was a wonderful grandpa that spent a lot of time with his grandchildren, Shelby and Aiden. Jim proudly displayed his grandchildren’s pictures and loved to share stories about them with others. He looked forward to shopping for toys for birthdays and Christmas. He was always joking around and laughing. Jim was a generous man and loved his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Betty Zothman; and brother, Gerald Jones.

He is survived by his daughter, Janel (Jesse) Sanborn of Mora; sons, James of Chaska, Jon (Lauren) of Australia and Jeffrey (Amy) of Braham; brother, Anton Jones of Hines; sisters, Norma Lembke of Bemidji, Iona (Richard) Johnson of Mille Lacs Lake; 13 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Rest well, Jim, and God be with you. We were so fortunate to have had you in our lives and you will be dearly missed.

Funeral service: was held on Tuesday, March 2 at Akkerman Ingebrand Funeral Home in Mora. Rev. Mark Roelofs officiated. Music was provided by Beth Roelofs.

Casket bearers: Anton Jones, Jill McKay, Jerry Orhepp, James Jones, Russell Lembke and Pet Zothman.

Honorary casket bearer: Aiden James Sanborn.

Interment: Oakwood Cemetery in Mora.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Akkerman Ingebrand Funeral Home of Mora. www.aifuneralhome.com.

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