James Evers, 97, of Mitchell, died Friday, June 7, 2019, at Firesteel Healthcare Center.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. on Friday, June 14, at Bittner Funeral Chapel in Mitchell. Burial will be at Westlawn Cemetery in Letcher at a later date. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral service.

James D. Evers was born May 12, 1922, in Winifred, Mont., to Edward and Jennie (McLaughn) Evers. He grew up at Winifred, where he attended school and graduated from Winifred High School. He worked for an area rancher until December of 1943, when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was an electrician on the U.S. Mellete and served most of his tour in the South Pacific. Following the service, he moved to Letcher and was employed by his Navy buddy, Aaron Alt, wiring many area places for the Rural Electric Association. 

On June 18, 1948, he married Lois Edwards. Jim soon began farming, which he did until retiring in 2000. He loved cattle and took great pride in his livestock and farming operation. Due to his love of horses, he helped start the Letcher Saddle Club. He served on the Logan Township Board, was a member of the Moose Lodge and of the Letcher American Legion Post 93.

James is survived by his wife, Lois; three sons, Dennis (Patty McCarthy) Evers, Bob Evers and Everett (Jackie) Evers; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; sister-in-law, Arlene Hanten; brother-in-law, Tom Ford; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Tim; daughter-in-law, Janice; four sisters, Ruth (Jim) Gibbons, Inez (Everett) Pollard, Isabelle (Frank) Wherley, Audrey (Tom) Ford; four brothers, Ed, Louis (Rena), Robert (Fern), and a baby brother in infancy.