James Edward Roach

James Roach, 86 of Fort Ransom, North Dakota died on Saturday, December 14, 2019 at his home surrounded by his loving family under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

James E. Roach was born 2-10-1933 to Daniel and Leona Roach in Springer Township in Ransom County, North Dakota.  James lived within a quarter of a mile of his birthplace for his entire 86 years.

Jim met the love of his life Gloriann “Googs” at St. Aloysius Catholic School in Lisbon, ND. when they were in the first grade.  Jim and Googs were married August 22, 1955 at St. Aloysius Church.

Jim and Googs had 5 children: Patrick (Adrianna), Anne, Rita (Dale) Haugen, Rosemary, and Gerry (Vicki).  Jim enjoyed his 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren. 

Jim had one sister – Delores (Hilmer) Ronning and two brothers – David (Shirley) and Gerald (Sharon).

Jim spent most of his life working and enjoying the farm his grandparents settled in 1906.  Jim worked as a butcher at the locker in Fort Ransom, on road construction as a cat skinner, and anything he had to do to take care of his growing family.

From the time Jim was a young boy he was fascinated with bulldozers.  He went to great lengths to watch them work or to run one.  By the mid ‘70s he realized his dream of owning his own bulldozer with his last bulldozer being the one he always dreamed of owning.  Jim was well known for his skills operating any dozer from a cable dozer to a hydrostatic dozer.  At the age of 86 he was still going out to do some of the things on his list with his dozer.

Jim treated each of his children in their own special way.  Each child had certain things that only that child was allowed to do for him.

In his “free” time Jim enjoyed gardening, hunting, snowmobiling, and an occasional Schmidt Beer.  Later in life, he loved spending his days on his front porch watching the wildlife in the hills, the livestock, his field work being done, or just enjoying his view. 

James was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Googs in 2016, his sister and brothers, as well as their spouses, and his great grandson, Owen Mrozek, May 2, 2007.

Dad you will always be our HERO!!!

“In lieu of flowers, Jim’s wish was that memorials be donated to Hospice of Red River Valley (1701 38th St. S. Suite 101, Fargo, ND 58103.)”

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