James Sias, 93

James “Jim” Leo Ross Sias, 93 of Ronan, passed away on July 15, 2024, at St. Luke Hospital.

Jim was born on Sept. 15, 1930, in St. Ignatius to Mabel and Leo Sias. He was a proud member of the Salish and Kootenai Tribe. After graduating from Ronan High School, he served in the U.S. Army and saw action in the Korean War.   

When he retired, Jim was employed by Plum Creek in Pablo as a lumber grader. He was also elected a CSKT Tribal Credit Committee member. Another proud accomplishment for Jim is his service on the board of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists from 2005-2011, which was appointed by the Governor of Montana.

In his younger days, Jim ran pack horses in the Mission Mountains. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, working in the woods, ranching, meat cutting, reading, and once in a while he could be seen checking in at a player’s club. He loved his Chicago Cubbies, Denver Broncs and the Montana Grizzlies Football. He also enjoyed horse racing.

He is preceded in death by wife Kelly, infant brother Bobby, son Lorin Peterson, daughters Lorraine Brown and Terri Sias Edmo, sisters Donna Bennett and Viola Meidinger-Potter, brother Ken Sias and granddaughter Debbie Troyan.

He’s survived by son Corky Sias (Teresa); daughter-in-law Lori Peterson Grenier; grandchildren Spencer Sias, Wayne Peterson, Missy Peterson-Moody (Craig), Kathy Peterson, Michelle Edmo, Cheryl Edmo, KJ Edmo, Cheri Austin and Greg Brown; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Jim’s service will be held at 11 a.m. Sept. 14 at the Ronan Cemetery with military services and his celebration of life will follow at the Joe McDonald gym in Pablo at noon in the hospitality room.