James "Jim" Leroy Stovern

James Leroy Stovern Obituary

James "Jim" Leroy Stovern, age 84, of Sidney, Montana, died May 1, 2026, at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow, Montana.

He was born on March 10, 1942, to Adolph and Louise (Johnson) Stovern in Colfax, Wisconsin, at the Stovern Maternity Home, delivered by his midwife grandmother, Clara Stovern Amundsen.  He grew up on the family farm in Dunn County and graduated from Colfax High School in 1959.

In 1961, Jim married Sandra Chambers in Champion, Nebraska, with whom he had four children - Tina, Monica, Farron, and Jerod.  They later divorced.

Jim married Theresa "Terri" Margaret Carson in Glasgow, Montana, on January 8, 1974. Jim became the father to three more children - Gene, Tami, and Robert - and they made their home first in Nebraska.  Later, they relocated to Montana, Wisconsin, and Kansas, before returning to Montana. They lived in the Wolf Point area for many years, where they farmed and ranched. For three of those years, they ran the Tribal Ranch near Fraser. They retired to Sidney for health reasons.

For many years, Jim ran a custom harvest crew - cutting wheat from Texas to Montana - from May through September each year.  He was widely known for his strong work ethic, which he was able to pass down to his kids and grandkids.  Over the years, Jim hired many, many harvesters/hired-hands. One of those, Silas Kern - originally from Wheeler, Wiconson. - became a close family friend who remained with the Stovern crew for decades, leading Silas to Chadron, Nebraska, where he still resides.

 Jim is survived by his wife Terri, his seven children: Tina Kitt (Keenan) of Wauneta, Neb., Gene Stovern (Shelly) of Wolf Point, Mont., Tami James of Chicago, Ill., Monica Pirner (Tim) of Minneapolis, Minn., Farron Stovern (Nancy) of Beaufort, SC, Jerod Stovern (Craig) of Palm Springs, Calif., Robert Stovern (Michelle) of Sidney, Mont.; 21 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren. Jim is also survived by three sisters: Beverly Schultz, Anita Meysenbourg (Len), and Theresa Buckley (Bruce) all of Wisconsin; sister-in-law: Linda Nielsen (Mark) of Nashua, Mont.; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, and great-grandnephews.

 He was preceded in death by his parents Adolph and Louise Stovern, brothers: Bruce Stovern and Clair Stovern, brother-in-law Harland Schultz, his father-in-law and mother-in-law Robert "Bob" and Theresa "Babe" (Spindler) Carson, sister-in-law Maureen "Mickie" Carson, grandson Ashton Stovern and nephew Samuel Buckley.

Jim and Terri especially enjoyed spending time with grandkids: Kyle Kitt, Ashley Kitt Spahn, John Kitt, James Stovern, Jesse Stovern, Talia James Irabagon, Sydney James Allen, Taylor Pirner, Mykael Pirner, Collin Pirner, Miles Stovern, Shelbi Greeley, Shelby Stovern, Ashton Stovern, and Brok Stovern.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be left for the family at bellmortuarymt.com.