Obituary - James P. 'Jim' O'Leary

James P. ‘Jim’ O’Leary

James P. “Jim” O’Leary, 87, passed away due to natural causes Sunday, January 24, 2021, at the Care & Comfort Home.

A Rosary was held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 28, 2021, with funeral services beginning at 11:00 a.m. today, January 29, 2021, all at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church with Father Dan Wathen officiating.

Jim’s family has suggested that memorial donations be made in his memory to St. Jude Catholic School or St. Jude Catholic Church, PO Box 407, Havre, MT 59501.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Please visit Jim’s online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com .

Jim was born on April 12, 1933, in Graceville, Minnesota, to Sylvester and Elizabeth (Sullivan) O’Leary. The family lived in Minnesota for a few years before moving to Savoy to homestead. They later moved to Havre, relocated to Great Falls, and returned to Havre in 1950, where they opened O’Leary’s Grocery, which they operated for many years.

Jim was raised in Havre, attending school there, until he received the opportunity to attend Gonzaga Prep School, graduating from Gonzaga in 1951. He attended Seminary for a time before returning to Havre, where he worked for First National Bank, where he met Alice Jenkins. The couple married in 1958, and had a son whom they raised in Havre.

Jim left First National Bank to work for Havre Federal Savings and Loan, resigning from his position of vice president many years later due to disagreeing with how the business was run. For several years, Jim struggled to find work due to his age, but his faith in God and friendship with Leroy Keller led him to run for Hill County treasurer, a position he held for several years before retiring in the late ’90s.

Jim was a kind, but fun-loving man who adored his wife and son, and doted on his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed helping his grandchildren with their Scout endeavors, driving them all over town during Scout sales, and taking them to coffee. He was devoted to his family, church, and school, and was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus, working to achieve the status of 4th Degree Knight. He had many little sayings, but one of his favorites was “May the Lord bless you and the devil miss you.” Jim was proud of his Irish heritage, and it was evident in his twinkling “Irish eyes.”

He was preceded in death by his great-granddaughter Tinsley Richmond; parents, Sylvester and Elizabeth O’Leary; and brothers, Michael and Donald O’Leary.

Jim is survived by his wife, Alice O’Leary of Havre; son, Doug (Kim) O’Leary of Havre; grandchildren, Alicia (Jessie) Richmond of Havre and Bryant O’Leary of Bozeman; great-grandchildren Parker, Brantlee, and Jack Richmond; sister, Theresa (Tony) Lirette of Lacy, Washington; and several nieces and nephews.