Stephen James

March 24, 1951-Oct. 9, 2008

Stephen P. James, 57, of Williston, died at his home surrounded by his family and under Mercy Hospice care on Thursday morning, Oct. 9, 2008. Funeral services will tentatively be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008, at the Fulkerson Funeral Home Chapel in Williston. The Rev. Jay Reinke will officiate. Cremation will follow the services. Friends are encouraged to send condolences to the family online at www.fulkersons.com.

Stephen Philip James was born March 24, 1951, to Harry and Marilyn (Booth) James in San Bernardino, Calif. He was raised and educated in New Effington, S. D. In 1970, he returned to California where he worked detailing cars and as a security guard.

On Jan. 22, 1977, Stephen was united in marriage to Elaine Vaughn at Colton, Calif. He later attended truck-driving school. The couple moved to Williston in 1985 where he began working as a long haul over the road truck driver for Wagoneer Trucking, and later for Weist Trucking of Jamestown. He trucked all around the United States and Canada, until October of 2007 at which time he went into business with his brothers with Nordic Beagles and was in the process of establishing his own business, SP James Express. He was a commercial transportation owner/operator at the time of his death. After the loss of his brother to cancer, Stephen began organizing annual family reunions. He truly enjoyed spending time with his family. He enjoyed working on vehicles, especially his 1987 Pontiac Bonneville. He also enjoyed building, carpentry work and cabinetry. He enjoyed trees, flowers, and gardening, and spending time with his granddaughter feeding the birds.

Stephen is survived by wife, Elaine James of Williston; his mother, Marilyn (Wayne) Bladow of Finlayson, Minn.; sons, Robert (Karen) Childers of Mandan, and Reginald (Kay) Childers of Billings, Mont.; daughters Regina (Tony) Scott and Jessica James both of Williston; brothers, Thomas James of Elk River, Minn., Daniel James of California, William (Stephanie) James of San Antonio, Texas, John (Adriana) James of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Peter (Dawn) Bladow of Elk River, Minn.; sisters, Nanci (John) Hutter of Fairview, Mont., Kathleen Jenema (Robert Jongesward) of Finlayson, Minn., Eileen Hand (Charles Green) of Washington, D.C., and Sharon James of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; 17 grandchildren with one on the way; and numerous nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Cecil and Evelyn James, and John and Elva Booth; father, Harry James; brother, Robert Bladow; daughter, Sarah James; and niece, Katrina Jenema.

Friends may call at the Fulkerson Funeral Home in Williston on Monday, Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. — 5 p.m. and an hour prior to services on Tuesday.