James Edward Congdon Iii

MISSOULA - James Edward Congdon III quietly passed away Wednesday, Jan 28, 2015, of natural causes. He was born August 13, 1925 in Ottawa Illinois to James E. Congdon Jr and Erma Benson. James was raised in Walworth Wisconsin and grew up sailing on Lake Geneva. He attended Park College in Parkville Missouri where he met and married Opal J. Ringen. He went on University of Wisconsin Law School where he received his LLB.

Jim joined the Air Force in 1952 as a JAG Corps Officer and served for 18 months before being discharged. From there he attended John Marshall Law School receiving his LLM. For health reasons, he and Opal headed west and settled in Missoula in 1961. Deciding he wasn't finished with his education, they returned east, living in New Jersey while he attended New York Law School where he received his SJD. They couldn't get out of New Jersey fast enough and returned to Missoula for good in 1964.

Jim joined the Air Force Reserve, again in the JAG Corps and stayed for 21 years until he retired in 1980 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He practiced law in Missoula from 1964 until his retirement in 2008. He also served as the City Attorney for the city of Superior for many years.

Jim was a member of the East Missoula Lions Club and the Missoula Mendelssohn Club. He served on the Board of Directors of The Marshall and Mary Brondum Special Assistance Foundation. One of his passions was sailing and he loved spending time at Flathead Lake in the summers doing just that.

His parents, his sister Mabel Louise and his twin brother Floyd, preceded James in death. He is survived by his wife of 66 years Opal of Missoula; daughter Christine and husband David Howe of Florence; son Walter and wife Ann of Missoula; granddaughters Amber Bass, Elizabeth Bass, Ona Congdon and grandson Sam Congdon.