James Livingston, 85

James “Jim” Livingston, 85, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, at the Hospice House.  

Memorial services and military honors will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, at the Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint.

Jim was born Sept. 7, 1939, to Helen Gail (Sturm) and William Thomas Livingston in Lapeer, Mich. He was the youngest of four children. The family moved from Michigan to Montana, Washington and finally North Idaho where they settled in Hope in the early 1950s. 

Jim worked various odd jobs in Hope before joining the U.S. Marine Corps on his 17th birthday. He finished high school and a variety of college courses while serving with distinction in his unit VMF 451 in the Far East, including receiving service awards for defense of The Republic of China (Taiwan) against Chinese communist bombardments in the Formosa Straits.

 After his stint in the service, Jim worked in Seattle at Boeing. Then it was back to North Idaho where he became the owner of the Plantation Club Night Club in Ponderay. Then down to Oregon where he became president and CEO of Keene Vending and Amusement Corporation. He and his partners sold the business and Jim returned to North Idaho and the Clark Fork area where he became a stump rancher, convenience/liquor store owner and real estate broker. This eventually led him back to Hope with a position at the Pend Oreille Shores Resort that went from onsite sales to sales manager.  Through all of this, Jim had learned the antique and rare book trade on the side. He became an avid yard and estate saler and he also kept busy with his online mail order book business.

He served two terms as the president of the Hope, Clark Fork, Trestle Creek Chamber of Commerce. He was twice named to the President’s Club as one of the top 100 salesmen worldwide by Resorts Condominiums International. He was extremely proud of being a foster parent, as well, and at the ripe old age of 80 took on the project of helping to restore the old Pioneer Cemetery in Hope.  His other community involvements included: Life Member of the Sandpoint Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Sandpoint Marine Corps League, and the Sandpoint Elks Lodge. Jim was named Elk of the Year for 1973-74 in St. Helens, Ore., where he was also a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons No. 32. He was very proud to have been a member of the International Chili Society where he not only cooked, but judged pots of chili.  But one of Jim’s proudest achievements was working with Idaho Governor Butch Otter to get a bill passed in the Idaho legislature in 2013. The bill allowed for “veteran” designation to be put on Idaho drivers’ licenses, and he received the signing pen and an autographed photo from the governor honoring his efforts.

Early in the 1970s, Jim was married to Janet Nygord Anderson, which ended in divorce. Later in the 1990s, he married again to Patricia Frisbie, but they divorced as well. His parents and his brother, Steve, preceded him death.  

He is survived by his current wife, Becky Reynolds, of Sandpoint; son James Dandin of Oklahoma City; sister Joann Fry, and nephew Allen Beach, Libby, Mont.; brother Bill Livingston in Texas; and many other nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

Generosity, kindness, and humor were his credos, and he would do anything to help anyone in need. Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Jim’s online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.