James Dignan

James Dignan, age 87 of

Lake Metigoshe, died Fri-

day on arrival to a Bot-

tineau hospital. A

memorial service will be

held on Wednesday, July

3, 2019 at 10:00 am at the

Lake Metigoshe Christian

Center. In lieu of flowers,

the family requests that

memorials be given to the

Metigoshe Lutheran

Church or Camp Meti-

goshe.

James E. Dignan, age 87

of Lake Metigoshe, died

Friday, June 28, on arrival

at a Bottineau hospital.

Jim was born April 19,

1932, on a farm near

Coteau, ND, to John and

Mary (Bogus) Dignan. He

was one of five children.

Jim graduated from

Bowbells High School in

1950. He worked at

several jobs, then joined

the U.S. Army where he

served in the United

States and Germany.

After his discharge in

1954, he worked in Min-

neapolis for a year before

starting school at the

University of North Dako-

ta in Grand Forks. He gra-

duated a “Fighting Sioux”

in 1958 with a Bachelor’s

degree in Business

Management.

Jim and Diane (Page) of

Mohall were married in

Grand Forks in 1955.

After graduation they

moved to Mohall where

Jim started work for Page

Bros. Inc., a John Deere

dealership owned by his

father-in-law, A.F. (Pete)

Page. He and Diane later

purchased and ran the

business for many years.

In Mohall, Jim served as

a volunteer fireman and

EMT and an active Jaycee

member, and enjoyed fol-

lowing Yellowjacket

sports. He was a member

of the Mohall Methodist

Church. In the mid-1970s

Jim and Diane bought a

lot at Lake Metigoshe,

where they built a log ca-

bin home which became

their favorite place. They

sold the implement busi-

ness and moved to Meti-

goshe permanently.

Jim found full time re-

tirement a little boring, so

he spent some time work-

ing for Theel Inc. in Bot-

tineau, sold insurance,

and traveled the U.S.

delivering machinery for a

relative of Diane’s. He

ended his paid employ-

ment days and joined Di-

ane as a “Lake Bum”. He

served as a Metigoshe

Lion for many years and

mowed ditches around

the lake for Roland town-

ship, a job he truly loved.

Jim became an avid

woodworker and was

well-known for his ducks,

trolls, and other miscel-

laneous carvings. He had

many friends, but his best

buddy was 4-legged Char-

lie the dog. He will be

missed by all who knew

him.

Jim is survived by wife

Diane, sons Jim (Char) ,

Steve (Connie), grandchil

dren Matt (Brie), Christo-

pher (Leetal), Jessica

(Michael), Jay (Kelley),

great-grandchildren

Frances, Mae, and third

great-granddaughter arriv-

ing in August. Sisters Hel-

len (Lawrence) Liddiard,

Teresa (Rich) Hull, many

nieces and nephews, and

Charlie the dog.

He was preceded in

death by parents John and

Mary, brothers Jack and

Father Thomas,

sister-in-law Mary Jo,

in-laws Pete (A.F.) and

Alta Page, and Niece Mon-

ica Liddiard.

God bless the memory

of Jim Dignan. May he

rest in peace.