James Thomas 'Jim' Stokes, 85, passed away May 10, 2016, at his home in Eagle Valley near Hot Springs, SD.

Jim was born December 6, 1930, in Douglas, WY, to Thomas and Elsie (Carlson) Stokes, but his family moved to Hot Springs when he was a very young boy. He attended all 12 years of school in the old hilltop school house which is now the Pioneer Museum. Jim liked to remember how exciting it was on fire drill days when the children were allowed to exit the building in the long, steep escape tube. He spent summers with his friends bull-frogging on Fall River with scraps of red fabric as bait, then taking their catch home to Jim's mom, Elsie, so she could fry up a batch of frog legs for dinner.

After graduating high school with the class of 1949, Jim joined the Air Force and served in Korea as an aviation mechanic, specializing in the B-47 Stratojet, a medium bomber. When his term of service was completed, he attended South Dakota State University at Brookings where he graduated with a Master of Science degree in microbiology. Instead of working in his chosen field, Jim came home to help his dad, Tommy, in the Jack and Jill grocery store on University Avenue and continued to work there until his retirement in 1999. During his life, Jim also worked as a school bus driver, a ranger at Wind Cave National Park, and a middle school math teacher at Lone Man School on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

In 1977, Jim married Frances Cortez Bustos and together they had two daughters, Jamie and Amber. Jim also became the step-father of Frances' two children, Frank and Theresa Bustos. Jim loved his role of husband and father. He was raised as a Protestant, but when he and Frances married he said he believed that families should attend church together, and he spent the next 39 years faithfully accompanying his family to mass every Sunday. He and Frances enjoyed attending the children's school activities and sporting events over the years, as well as all kinds of community events. They hosted five foreign exchange students from Germany, Spain, and Mexico, and loved having their children's friends roaming in and out of their home. Later, Jim loved it even more when he became "Papa Jim" and his own grandchildren came to play.

Jim Stokes was a kind, hard-working, gentle, and patient soul who cared about and believed in the goodness of his fellow man. He believed everyone was as honest as he was and he had absolutely no problem extending credit at his grocery store to anyone in need. He knew that someday they would pay it back or pay it forward in one form or another.

Jim was known for his wry sense of humor and his sweet tooth. He loved socializing with anyone, but most of all his Coffee Posse, who met daily to solve the problems of the universe. For many years, townspeople could expect to see Jim's old red pick-up parked in front of Dale's Restaurant around 10:00 a.m. with his faithful golden retriever Ginger waiting patiently for him to return. Frances made sure to satisfy Jim's sweet tooth by supplying countless cakes, cookies, and pies for him over their many years together. Even then, he left a trail of crumpled Hershey wrappers wherever he went.

Jim loved working in his yard and after building a home in Eagle Valley in 2004, he especially loved to watch and feed the many wild critters that visited daily. He found joy in almost everything, even sitting on his deck and watching the twilight roll in.

A deep interest in the world around him fueled Jim's passion for history, archeology, science and the natural world and piqued his desire to see more of the planet. Retirement allowed him and Frances to explore pirate ports in the Caribbean, climb ancient Mayan ruins of the Yucatan in southern Mexico, cruise the glacial waters of Alaska, investigate a live volcano in Hawaii, and to fulfill a life-long dream of discovering ancestral origins in England and Ireland.

Over the years, Jim was a member of the Lions Club, the Kiwanis Club, Rotary International and the Elks Club. He was an active Mason and past Master of the Harmony Lodge #110, as well as a member of the Scottish Rite and Naja Shrine.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Randolph Stokes; his mother, Elsie Mathilda Stokes; and his infant daughter, Jamie Rae Stokes.

Survivors include his wife, Frances Cortez Stokes; his daughter, Amber Pelster (Greg); two step-children, Frank Bustos and Theresa Bustos Crum (Terry); and seven grandchildren. Jim is also survived by his sister Jeanie Hyde of Phoenix, AZ, niece, Vicki Jensen and nephew, Jeff Ebbeson.

A wake will be held at 7:00 p.m., Friday, May 27, 2016 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Hot Springs.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 28, 2016, at the Church. Committal services will be held 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 28, 2016, at Evergreen Cemetery where his daughter, Jamie Rae, lies at rest.

In lieu of flowers, Jim desired that memorial donations be made to: The Naja Temple Travel Fund, Shrine Office, 4091 Sturgis Road, Rapid City, SD 57702; or St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 538 University Ave., Hot Springs, SD 57747.

Correspondence may be sent to: Frances Stokes, 27532 Todd Dr., Hot Springs, SD 57747; Amber Pelster, 15986 East 108th Ave., Commerce City, CO 80022; or Theresa Crum, 3830 Soft Breeze Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80918.