Jim Rist III, 77, Velva, died on Sunday, February 11, 2018 in a Minot hospital.

James Arthur Rist III was born on December 25, 1940 in Minot to James Jr. and Eloise (Christenson) Rist. He was raised in Velva, ND and graduated from Velva High School in 1959.

After high school, he attended a semester at Minot State College. He enlisted into the US Army in 1959, serving for three years in Germany. James was honorably discharged in 1963. Upon his return, he was united in marriage to Norma Jean Kittelson in 1964. They made their home in Voltaire, ND.

Jim worked a few years as an American Republic Insurance agent. In 1967, Jim was offered a job as a weighing scale attendant for ND Truck Regulatory. This led to his ND Highway Patrol career of 32 years. During this time, he was transferred to Bowman, Hillsboro, and Mott. His last move was back to his home town, Velva ND, where Jim and Norma Jean raised their 4 children. He retired in 1998.

Jim and Norma enjoyed spending their summers at Strawberry Lake and trolling around the lake on their pontoon. Jim loved the outdoors, and before his first heart attack in 2000, he was an avid hunter, trapper and fisherman. He was often found with a book in his hand or cleaning his firearms.

Jim was a member of the Velva American Legion and Oak Valley Lutheran Church of Velva. He was passionate about the lake and was a member to the Strawberry Lake Recreation Association. Jim was a devoted animal lover. His compassion for animals of all types was inspirational. He will be missed by all who shared in his life.

Jim leaves behind his wife, Norma Jean, Velva; children, Donna (Ward) Knutson Bismarck, ND, Paula (Mark) Bearman, Webster, SD, Jason (Kari) Rist, Minot, ND and Sara (Ryan) Klein Velva, ND; Grandchildren: Kyle Knutson, Karli (Jordan) Weidler, Calli and Brent Bearman, Caleb, MacKenzie, Logan, and Mason Rist, and Crew, Dane and Brek Klein; brother, Robert (Colleen) Rist, Minot along with a niece, two nephews and many cousins.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James A. Rist Jr. and Eloise C. (Christenson) Rist, grandparents, Harry and Agnes Christenson and James and Ann Rist, a special aunt, Vida Mae Christenson and uncle, Vergil Christenson.

Funeral Service : Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. in Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Velva.
Interment: Velva Community Cemetery
Visitation: Wednesday, February 14, 2018 from 2:00 5:00 p.m. Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Velva.
Memorials are preferred to the Souris Valley Animal Shelter of Minot.