James "Jim" George Beck

HAMILTON - James (Jim) George Beck was born on March 8, 1932 to Frank John Beck and Dora Viola Kirkwood Beck in Limon, Colorado, and left us on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at age 90.

Much of his childhood was spent in Northern California in Humboldt and Mendocino counties. His formal education was minimal because his family moved a lot and his father loved living “away from it all.” He learned the carpenter trade from his father and helped him build cabins and a lodge when he was a teenager. Later he was a fishing guide at Lake Pillsbury, also in Northern California, and was privileged to take many celebrities fishing in his boat, which made for fun stories and memories. He was also a good auto mechanic and worked as a lineman for PG&E before being drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After his service, he worked many years in the lumber and steel industries.

He met the love of his life, Gayle Colby in Mendocino, California in 1956 and they were married in 1959 in Bakersfield, California. They raised their three children in northern and south-central California.

After retiring in 1996, Jim and Gayle moved to Hamilton, Montana where he enjoyed the great outdoors, hunting and fishing as much as he wanted. Jim was never one to sit still and loved to keep busy and help others and worked hanging blinds for a local window covering business. Jim also worked with Pigman Builders, and truly cherished that time with all the guys.

Jim was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and happily served in many different callings over the years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his six siblings, and his oldest son Bryan. He is survived by his wife, Gayle; son, Darin, and wife Becky Beck of Azle, TX; daughter Dana, and husband Matthew Janes of Hamilton, MT; Grandchildren: Josh, and wife Jessica Beck, Colleen, and husband Shawn Hamilton, Jacob, and wife Marissa Beck, Brandy, and husband Eric Berens, Lindsay Janes, Jesse Janes, Austin, and wife Kristen Beck, Breanna Behling, and seven and a half great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Kristen, Rebekah, Christina and all the wonderful staff at The Living Centre in Stevensville for their loving care. We also thank Bitterroot Health Hospice, who were also very caring and attentive to our family’s needs.

The family invites you to a celebration of Jim’s life at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 801 Pine St, Hamilton, MT at 10:00 am, Monday May 9th.  Jim’s interment with Military Honors will be at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Missoula at 2:00 pm on Monday.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.  

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