James L. Downing, 83, Dickinson, died Saturday, June 13, 2026 at the Billings Clinic Hospital, Billings, MT. Mass of Christian Burial for James will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 20, 2026 at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Msgr. Thomas Richter as the celebrant. Military Honors will be provided by the Dickinson American Legion Post 3 Honor Guard. Inurnment will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be on Friday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, with a Rosary led by Richard Wandler and Vigil at 6 p.m. with Deacon Leonard Krebs as presider. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the Mass at the church.
James L. Downing was born April 26, 1943 in Bowman, the son of Milo and Agnes (Pederson) Downing. He was raised and educated in Bowman, having graduated in 1961. James volunteered for the United States Army on February 7, 1962 and served honorably until February 6, 1964. Following his return home, he learned to shear sheep and built CAP Homes. James also worked for farmers in the area and what he enjoyed most was riding horses in Cave Hills. He would say he misses the smell of sweating horses and horse farts. There he was paid to do something he loved to do. He worked at home with his dad when his brother was drafted into Vietnam. After that he worked for Farmers Union in Bowman and then began a career with MDU out of Bowman. With MDU he also worked in Jamestown and then Langdon as manager.
While in Langdon, he went on a blind date that was set up by Sue and Glen Kadrmas. Six weeks later, James and Karen Jilek were married in 1970. They remained in Langdon until Karen’s parents Laudie and Leona Jilek asked them to come work on the ranch with them. They moved to Indian Springs Ranch where they had two children and remained there for the next 48 years. When Karen’s health began declining, they bought a house in Dickinson and moved there.
He enjoyed playing cards with family and friends, and enjoyed drinking beer. James liked telling stories and loved gardening. He had gone to a vet school to learn more about PG-ing, AI, and C-section. He built 149 gates from Treetop to Dunn Center and later removed those gates.
James is survived by his children, Jason (Tina) Downing, Fairfield, and Janel (Shannon) Sivak, Huntley, MT; granddaughter, Taylor (Jayce) Jurgens; mother-in-law, Leona Jilek; siblings, Marylin (Randy Johnson) Klein and Norma (Gary) Willems; sister-in-law, Barb Downing; four step-granddaughters, and five step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Karen, on November 29, 2018; his parents; siblings, Becky (Joe) Seymanski, “JR” Milo Downing, and Sue (Glen) Kadrmas; father-in-law, Laudie Jilek; and sister-in-law, Sharon Reis.
