James, "Jimmie", was born in Hettinger, ND, the youngest of 9 children to James S. and Mary R. Donohue. They lived on a ranch south of Sorum, SD, then moved to Sheep Mountain southeast of the Slim Buttes.

Jimmie attended grade school at Sorum and Govert.  For his freshman year, he rode the train out to Madison and lived with an aunt. The following year he returned to western SD, graduating from St. Martin's in Sturgis.

He enlisted in the Army on September 19, 1946, serving during the occupation and rehabilitation of Japan, honorably discharged January 2, 1948. James received a service medal of victory. Upon his return from war, he attended Black Hills State College graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1954. After teaching one year in Phillip, SD, he returned to the ranch to help his parents.

James married Marie Thybo at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Buffalo, SD August 16, 1961.   Jimmie was the teacher at Govert for 3 years, taking over the operation of the ranch when his father passed away. Jim and Marie were blessed with 4 children.

Jimmie was a pilot and would fly to church at Reva, landing on the highway.  Jim often flew to Belle Fourche for groceries.  Jimmie and his dad found a plane that had crashed in the Slim Buttes and fashioned a ski plane, with no wings or wheels, it could move quickly over the prairie.  The plane had no brakes, so it took a specific technique to get it stopped.

James enjoyed team roping and playing cribbage with family and friends in the Slim Buttes area.  Jim loved to garden. Coyote hunting and trapping kept him busy until Jimmie and Marie took up golf.  Jimmie designed and built a 9-hole golf course on the ranch.  After losing too many golf balls on the Sheep Mountain course, they started golfing in Newell.

Jimmie served on the West River Cooperative Telephone board of directors for 23 years, enjoyed helping manage the challenges of a rural telephone coop, going to meetings and traveling.

He was a devout Catholic, had a strong faith in God and spent many an hour in prayer throughout his life. Jim was a member of Our Lady of the Prairie, Reva, and later St. Anthony's in Buffalo, SD. After achieving the age of 94, Jimmie died peacefully the evening of December 9, 2021, surrounded by his family. He often told us "I have lived a good life!"

He is survived by his wife, Marie; their 4 children: Anita (Dave), Kellie (Gary), Janine (Rob) and Jay; 6 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers; and 6 sisters.

A memorial has been established to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

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