Donald "Jim" Goldhahn

Donald Jim Goldhahn, 84, of Great Falls, formerly of Geraldine, a retired grain buyer, farmer, city manager of Geraldine and a U.S. Army veteran, died of natural causes Saturday, March 3, at his residence. A memorial service is 1 p.m. Wednesday at Community United Methodist Church in Geraldine, followed by inurnment with military hon-ors in Geraldine Cemetery. A reception will follow at the reception hall of the church. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Jim was born Feb. 29, 1928, to John Sr. and Rose (Zigan) Goldhahn, who homesteaded five miles northeast of Geraldine. Jim was the youngest of eight children, with five brothers and two sisters. He enjoyed growing up on the homestead, playing the pioneer and explorer he wished he could have been. It was a rude awakening for the little pioneer when he began school in Geraldine. When not attending school, he rode horses and worked on the family dairy farm, milking cows and delivering a regular milk route. He graduated from Gerald-ine High School in 1945.Jim married Jean Entorf on June 19, 1949, at the Methodist Church in Geraldine. They farmed in the Virgelle area until Jim was called to military service in 1954. Their oldest daughter, Pat, was born in Ayer, Massachusetts, while Jim was in training at Fort Devens, Mass. He then served at Wildwood Station as a teletype interceptor near Kenai, Alaska, and was honorably discharged in 1956.They resumed their life, settling in Geraldine, where they would remain for the next 50 years. Two more daughters, Diane and Laura, were born to them while living in Geraldine. Jim worked for Payne Construction, operating Caterpillar tractors, dozers, and scrapers to build dams and reservoirs. At that time, he helped install the first sewer lagoon for Geraldine. During his employment with Chouteau County, he became a skilled operator of road-building machinery, and built and upgraded many new roads north of Geraldine, in the High-wood Mountains and the Big Sag area, each with his signature upon them.He was employed by the town of Geraldine as city manager for several years. During that time, he became an expert with water and sewer systems, installing new lines, some of them replacing the old wooden mains that dated back to the beginning days of Geraldine. In the early 1970s, he became the manager of General Mills grain elevators in Geraldine and served in that position for the next 20 years. He retired in 1992. He was an active participant in the life of Geraldine, serving as mayor, clerk of the city council and clerk of the cemetery board.Jim is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jean; daughters Pat (Frank) Norbury of Boise, Idaho, Diane Gilbreaith of Belgrade, and Laura Goldhahn of Great Falls; four grandchildren, Russ Wood, Major Kristen Wood (USAF), Michelle Gilbreaith, and Christopher Gilbreaith; and a brother, Henry Goldhahn of Cascade. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Lillian and Elizabeth; and brothers Harold, John, Bob, and Charles.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Benefis Peace Hospice of Montana in Jim's name.