James Joseph Hervol, 85

James Joseph Hervol, 85, passed away peacefully at his home in Coram on May 13, 2025, with his family by his side. 

On May 6, 1940, James was born in Malta to Joe and Gert Hervol. James would join three older sisters. 

James or "Jimmy" would go on to attend school in Malta until the eighth grade. His family relocated then to the Flathead Valley and purchased the "Dew Drop Inn," in Coram. Jim went on to graduate from Columbia Falls High School in 1958. 

From youth on up, Jim's parents instilled a great work ethic into him. First by helping at the family restaurant in Malta, and then as James grew older, he worked alongside his dad cutting firewood. 

Once he graduated Jim set out for Alaska with a new saw, work gloves and a comfy pair of boots where he entered the logging industry. 

James found himself married to Glenna Bras, and soon thereafter their little family grew, and they welcomed a baby girl, Gina. It was at this time that he decided to relocate the family back to Flathead Valley. Where he would work with the Bras family logging business. 

Always up for adventure the next phase in Jimmy's life would land him in the construction field. From the airfields in Glasgow to the roads in Idaho where he was commonly known as a "powder monkey." 

As those of us born and raised in Montana know, all roads lead back to the Flathead. Arriving back home Jim met and married Deb, his second wife. They soon welcomed two little boys, Cameron and Danny. Cameron and Danny would join their two sisters, Gina and Angel. 

Once back in the Flathead Valley, James began a successful career with Flathead Electric. 

He spent 40 years servicing the Greater Flathead Valley. 

Jim spent his life giving back and providing service to those in need from a young age he earned his badges as a Boy Scout in Malta. Later in life he would retire as a member of the Coram Water Users, he also had many fulfilling years as a volunteer fireman with the Coram-West Glacier Fire Department. Many stories could be told about those harrowing days, Jim would say, "Every corner has a story." 

Towards the end of his life, he found new and profound truths in his study of the bible and came to find pure love for the creator and his brothers and sisters at the local Kingdom Hall. 

James could always be found hunting for rocks, taking photos of breath-taking scenery and experiencing nature at its best. One could say his eye was trained on all of Jehovah God's creations. 

One of his last requests when asked what he wanted to do for the day was, "I want to mow the grass. It always looks nice when it's finished."

In 2004 Jim began with another family when he married his best friend and traveling companion, Juanita Shepard. This union would again add to the family tree, bringing two daughters, Avangala Babcock and Amanda Cikauskas, as well as two sons, Nathan and Micah Shepard. Plus, a handful of grandkids and great-grandkids. 

James was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Gert Hervol of Montana; his sisters, Julia McNaney of Texas and Donna Bauer of Montana; his infant brother, Buddy of Montana; and his first wife, Glenna Bras of Alaska. 

He is survived by his daughter, Gina (Ron) of Alaska; stepdaughter, Angel Horner of Montana; sons, Cameron (Beatrice) of Arizona and Danny (Mia) of Madagascar, Avangala (Paul) Babcock of Montana, Amanda (Tim) Cikauskas of Montana, Nathan (Jessa) Shepard of Montana and Micah (Sarah) Shepard of Montana; grandkids, Jeffrey, Kasey, Kali, Layne, Malachi, Wyatt, Levi and Dakota; and great-grandchildren, Koen, Bently, Brayden, Brinley, Amelia, James Parker, Brooklyn, and Tye. 

Services for Jim will be held at 3:33 p.m. on Aug. 2 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1900 Hwy 93, Whitefish. A luncheon will follow at the Whitefish Community Center, 121 E. Second St., Whitefish. The family will have a private burial at a later date.