James O'Connell
The funeral service for James W. O'Connell, 79, Valley City, North Dakota, will be 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 25, 2003 at the Congregational United Church of Christ, Valley City. Rev. Pamela Moeller, PhD will officiate and burial will be in the North Dakota Veteran's Cemetery, Mandan, North Dakota. He died Thursday evening, November 20, 2003 at the Sheyenne Care Center, Valley City while under the care of Red River Valley Hospice.
Visitation will be Monday from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.; family members will be present from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City. A prayer service will start at 7:00 p.m. in the chapel. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services in the church on Tuesday.
James Walsh O'Connell was born August 15, 1924 in Rhame, North Dakota, the son of Richard and Anna Marie (Carlson) O'Connell. He grew up in Rhame and then moved with his family to Bowman, North Dakota where he graduated from high school. He attended Valley City State University for a year before entering the United States Army.
On June 23, 1943 he was united in marriage to Meryl Williams in Baker, Montana. He was a member of the 288th Engineer C Battalion and served his country from 1943-1946 in the European Theater. He was discharged as a First Lieutenant. Among the various medals he was awarded, he received the Purple Heart.
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After being discharged he went back to Valley City State University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Math and Science. He got his Master's Degree at the Colorado State College of Education in Greeley, Colorado and did post graduate studies at the University of Wyoming and the University of Illinois. In the summers of 1955-1956 he was a park ranger at Yellowstone National Park.
He started teaching at Valley City State University in 1948. He became the chairman of the Math Department in 1964 and continued in this role until his retirement in 1994. Although he retired he still continued teaching on many different levels, students and learning were two of his major priorities.
Jim has been a member of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Valley City, where he served as Deacon and Trustee in the past, since 1948. He was also a servant of his community. He was a Salvation Army Bell Ringer, worked during Bingo at the VFW, volunteered at the Barnes County Historical Museum, and various other projects.
He was a charter member of the North Dakota Council of Teachers of Mathematics as well as a member of the North Dakota Academy of Science, and the National Teachers of Mathematics. He belonged to the Valley City Area Retired Teachers Association and was a member of the Eagles and a lifetime member of the VFW and the Elks.
Jim is survived by his wife of 60 years, Meryl of Valley City; son, James R. (Barbara Kramer) of Grand Forks, North Dakota; daughters, Sandy (Dalton) West of Annapolis, Maryland and Peggy (Dave) Sola of West Fargo, North Dakota; grandchildren, Cindy (Juan Carlos) Cruzado, Sean (Jean) West, Tom Anundson, and Joe Anundson; great grandchildren, Jessica & Diego Cruzado and Nicholas West; a sister, Virginia (John) Butcher of Portland, Oregon; nieces, Joan Stromer and Jean Butcher; and a nephew Jim Butcher.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Charles.
In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to the Valley City State University Foundation, the Barnes County Historical Museum and Red River Valley Hospice.
Funeral arrangements are by Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City.
