James Elwin Swift

longtime Carpio area

resident died on Friday,

August 24, 2018 in Minot.

James was born on No-

vember 3, 1945 in Minot

to Willard Elwin and

Dorothy (Broderson)

Swift. He was reared on

the family farm in Cal-

lahan Township of Ren-

ville County near Carpio

and attended rural ele-

mentary school. He gra-

duated from Carpio High

School, attended the ND

College of Forestry in Bot-

tineau and graduated from

Mayville State College

with a degree in Physical

Education and Social Stu-

dies. During his college

years he was employed as

a dispatcher and was also

on a trail crew for the U.S.

Forest Service in the Bob

Marshall Wilderness Area

in Montana.

Jim began his career in

education and coaching at

Makoti High School and

continued at Belcourt for

fourteen years. He re-

turned to the farm in 1989

and especially enjoyed

caring for his cattle. Also,

he was a substitute school

teacher in Minot, Ken-

mare, Berthold, Glenburn,

Westhope, White Shield

and Dunseith. He married

Joy Baker in 2001. They

divorced later. Jim’s love

of basketball led him to

attend many area games.

He also officiated for

basketball and football

games and coached track

and cross-country teams.

Jim was a member of

the Carpio Lutheran

Church, Carpio Volunteer

Fire Department and espe-

cially enjoyed hunting

and fishing.

He is survived by his

sister and brother-in-law,

Ann and Dale Marks of

Ypsilanti, ND; long-time

best friend and fiancee,

Nordell Cockrell of Minot;

nephews, Dustin Marks,

Minneapolis, MN; Nick

Marks, Ypsilanti, ND;

niece, Jennie Smith, Ypsi-

lanti, ND; 4 grandnieces

and grandnephews and

many cousins.

Jim was preceded in

death by his parents.

Celebration of the Life

of James Swift: Wednes-

day, August 29, 2018 at

2:00 p.m. in the Carpio

Lutheran Church.

Interment will be in the

Nazareth Lutheran

Church Cemetery.

Visitation: Tuesday

from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00

p.m. in Thomas Family

Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials are preferred

to Carpio Lutheran

Church, Nazareth

Cemetery or Gideons

International.

Those wishing to sign

the online memorial regis-

ter or share memories and

condolences are invited to

use the expressions of

sympathy section at

www.thomasfamily

funeralhome.com.