James Ray “Jim” LaRock

James Ray

LaRock-“Jim”– was born

on July 4th, 1948, in

Minot, North Dakota, to

Duane and Elaine LaRock.

He passed in his home on

January 1, 2020, from a

struggle with pulmonary

fibrosis. Funeral services

will be held at 11:00 a.m.

Tuesday, January 7, at

Parkway Funeral Service,

2330 Tyler Pkwy,

Bismarck.

Burial will be held at

11:00 a.m. Wednesday,

December 8, at New Town

Cemetery, New Town.

Jim spent his early

years in Van Hook until

the flooding caused by the

Garrison Diversion sent

them to New Town,

where he graduated in

1966. Playing baseball,

basketball, and golf with

his brother and communi-ty teams is how he spent

much of his youth. He at-

tended NDSU for four

years, then moved back to

New Town where he

worked as a carpenter for

a short while, before tak-

ing a job at Northrop

Grumman in accounting

until he retired.

Jim met Jeanette Holien

fishing on Lake Saka-

kawea and they married

in 1972. Jim and Jeanette

settled in New Town and

they raised their two

daughters, Ali and Katie,

there.

Jim loved spending

hours walking along the

lake with his dog. It was

his happy place and he

found a great deal of

peace in nature. He was a

great golfer and an avid

collector of pottery and

antiques. Jim loved to use

his hands, whether it was

woodworking, refinishing

antiques, or being a han-

dyman for his family.

He was a wonderful fa-

ther and grandfather. He

always made time to

spend a moment with his

children and grandchil-

dren, whether it was tak-

ing his daughters golfing,

shooting baskets with

them, or reading books

and playing toys with his

granddaughters.

Jim was a gentle person

who was known for his

kindness and quirky sense

of humor. People, kids

especially, loved being

around him as he didn’t

demand anything from

anyone. He let them be

themselves. He was also

willing to help anyone in

need and cared deeply

about others.

He is survived by his

wife of 47 years, Jeanette

LaRock, daughters Katie

LaRock and Ali LaRock,

and granddaughters An-

nabelle and Alaina, all of

Bismarck. He was pro-

ceeded in death by his

mother Elaine LaRock, fa-

ther Duane “Buck”

LaRock, and brother Jerry

LaRock.