James “Jim” Colwell Raw, son of Mary and James Raw, was born on April 26th, 1945 in Lewistown, Montana. He died on June 24, 2017 in the company of his family and his dog, “Casey”.
Jim was proud to be a 4th generation rural Central Montanan. He attended school in Moore, Montana and graduated from there in 1963 and went on to attend Northern Montana College in Havre, Montana before beginning a successful career as a long-haul truck driver and working in road construction. He was employed by Century Construction for 25 years and was recognized as employee of the year in 1997.
Jim married Jean Casey on September 19, 1970. His marriage to Jean was everything to him, and he was proud of their three children, Michael, Shannon, and Tamara. Life got even better when his three grandchildren, Meaghan, Morgan and Emily joint the family. He enjoyed interacting with them from infants to young adults, traveling to and observing may school and extra-curricular activities.
Jim was a proud member of the Montana Army National Guard, serving his country for more than 13 years as an artillery man with the 163rd Armored Cavalry Brigade. He made many lifelong friendships and enjoyed recalling his life experiences during that period.
Receiving his 50 years pin as a member of the Lewistown Friendship Masonic Lodge #37, where he was a two time past Master Mason, was an important milestone for him. He conducted community outreach activities, scholarship programs and participated in many 4th of July parades as a Shriner clown or driver.
Jim loved his community, his home, his friends, and his family. He welcomed a strong cup of coffee, conversations on wide and varied topics, a good book, a great home cooked meal, and a good (or bad) game of Pinochle, He had a sense of humor that was legendary. He enjoyed four wheeling with friends and family, knowing and showing parts of the Little Belt Mountains and Armell’s Creek near the Yaeger ranch. He was an avid camper, in the Little Belts and at Crystal Lake. He could tell wild stories of past hunting seasons and was relied upon by the next generations to show them where to find their hunting success. He was counted on by many for volunteering time and energy, dropping what he was doing to lend a hand: loading bales of hay, gathering cattle, or fixing equipment. He was a self-taught master mechanic who could diagnose and repair problems brought to him whether cars, tractors, lawnmowers or four wheelers. Some referred to him as the mechanical “miracle” worker. He volunteered alongside Jean with Relay for Life activities, and working with the First Presbyterian Church community dinners and other events.
Jim is survived by his wife, Jean; son Michael (Stacey) Raw of Clyde Park, Montana; daughter Shannon (J.R.) Killham of Great Falls, Montana; and daughter, Tamara Raw of Boise, Idaho; grandchildren Emily Killham and Meaghan and Morgan Raw; sisters Roxie (Odell) Ecker, Rosie (Chuck) Yaeger, and Nancy Maynard, and their many family members.
Funeral Services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, Lewistown, Montana on Friday June 30th 2017 at 3:00 PM followed by a reception in the fellowship hall. Memorials may be made to Friendship Lodge # 37 Order of Masons, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), First Presbyterian Church, or the Veteran’s Memorial Park of Lewistown.