James Super

James Jim Anthony Super, 82, of Great Falls passed away Saturday, December 10, 2016 from natural causes. He died suddenly, as he would have wanted it, and managed to shock us all one last time.A vigil service will be Monday, December 19, 2016 at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel at 6:00 p.m. The funeral liturgy will be Tuesday, December 20, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.Jim was born September 9, 1934 at home in Sand Coulee, Montana to Joseph Super and Magdalen (Konesky) Super. He was the third born of five children. His oldest sibling, Donald died in 1932 at age two, and surviving siblings are Shirley, Joe and Gloria. In 1948, his father died while working for the Montana Power Company and Jim took over the role as male head of the household and remained a devoted son to his mother, visiting her daily until her death in 1993.Jim attended Centerville High School, graduating in 1952. He was a lineman on the football team and a forward on the basketball team. In his spare time, he got into as much mischief as he could concoct with friends he connected with often up until his death.After high school, he spent two years at Gonzaga University and one more at the College of Great Falls. Deciding that a desk job was not for him, he joined the Army where he served three years in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. Upon returning to Great Falls, he began his lifelong career in carpentry working for the Anaconda Company until sometime in the 1960s when he went to work at Volk Construction Company. In 1988, he took time off to finish the amazing craftsmanship of his Stone House where he and his wife, Betty, still reside.Once the house was completed, Jim was the Business Agent for the Carpenters Union Local 286, serving two terms before officially retiring from the work force, but with his rentals, volunteer building, and other pursuits, there was little difference between his work and retirement years. He spent many hours every winter snowplowing several blocks for the neighbors, despite the temperature.On June 25, 1960, Jim married Betty Wolf, and this year they celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary. In 1976, they welcomed their daughter, Maria, into the family. In 2004, he celebrated the marriage of his daughter to Brian Olsen. In recent years, Jim was thrilled to become a grandfather to his three grandchildren, Madelyn, David, and Olivia. He pursued the role of grandfather with the same enthusiasm as his many other pursuits. They were the light of his life.Jim was an adventurous soul, and he and his family rode motorcycles in the hills, skied every winter at Kings Hill/Showdown, with additional trips to Big Sky, Big Mountain, Jackson Hole, Banff, France, and Switzerland to name a few. He taught his daughter, sisters, nieces and many other family members to ski in the process, even teaching his grandchildren to ski at Great Divide up through last winter. Jim and Betty traveled to many historical, interesting and beautiful sites in Montana, the United States and beyond. He skied, motor coached, drove, cruised and flew. He enjoyed traveling with friends he and Betty met through Laird Travel, Mountain West Bank Summit Club, Great Falls Ski Club, and others. A yearly trip to Las Vegas to see his Gonzaga Bulldogs during March Madness was in his plans for this coming year.Super was the life of every party. He enjoyed people and was actively involved in several clubs, organizations, volunteer groups and councils, including Eagle Mount, Neighbor Works, Habitat for Humanity, Neighborhood Council 6, Great Falls Ski Club, Montana Trail Vehicle Riders Association, Montana Landlord Association and others. He gave of his talents freely and thoroughly.Jims primary love was for his family, both immediate and extended, and there isnt a family member whose life hasnt been touched by his talents, his wit, or his love of a good time. He loved to work in his garden and won many awards due to his gardening diligence. His yard and his rentals were a testament to his passion of doing things and doing them well. Riding his motorcycle in the hills with his friends was a summertime pursuit he was again looking forward to. Being a true people person, Jim was happy to B.S. with anyone who had a minute.A devout Catholic, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church had been the parish of his grandmother, mother, aunts, uncles, siblings and many cousins and had been so since its inception. He was involved in many parish activities, again lending his carpentry skills, business skills and friendship. He attended daily mass and teasing fellow parishioners afterwards was a favorite activity. He was often seen whistling as he walked to and from church most days.The key to life for him was smiling, joking, loving life and all people, being active and doing things well. Still his mantra was maintaining balance. He will be sorely missed.Jim is survived by his wife, Betty; daughter Maria (Brian) of Helena; sister Shirley Polejewski of St. Paul, MN; brother Joseph (Jan) of Kalispell, MT; sister Gloria Dailey of Kalispell, MT; grandchildren Madelyn, David and Olivia Olsen of Helena, MT; many nieces, nephews and cousins, including Michelle Pollington who was a great help to him here in Great Falls; and so many wonderful friends.He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Donald; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.