James Edward “Jim” Liebelt passed away unexpectedly at St Vincent’s Hospital, in Billings, MT on October 24th, 2016 surrounded by family and friends.
Jim was born in Kalispell, MT on December 8th, 1938 to Bernhardt and Amanda Liebelt. He graduated from Great Falls High School in 1956 and attended Concordia College in Morehead, MN while earning a BS in Chemistry.
While working at the Anaconda Smelter in Great Falls, he met Jeanne Van Tighem and they were later married on April 24th, 1965. They moved to Bozeman, where he attended MSU, earning a MS in Zoology and a PHD in Zoology in 1970. During that time, they were blessed with three children; Michael Paul, Gregory James and Kirstin Marie.
In December 1970, the family moved to Ft Peck where Jim accepted a job, with then, Mt Fish-and-Game, to manage commercial fishing on Ft Peck Lake. He later became the Information and Education Officer for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, in Glasgow. In his last six years with the Department, he returned to Fort Peck to serve as the project leader for the Lower Missouri & Yellowstone River pallid sturgeon study, retiring in 2000.
Jim loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting and camping. Especially, fly fishing in the mountain streams and rivers of Montana, fishing on Fort Peck Lake, bird hunting for grouse, pheasant and waterfowl and big game hunting for deer, antelope, elk and his big horn sheep. He loved sports and was an ardent supporter of his children and grandchildren sporting activities. He enjoyed playing racquetball, bowling and working cross word puzzles and watching Turner Classic, Western Movies and listening to classical music.
Jim was a member of Ducks Unlimited, serving as Area Chairman, for several years; Trouts Unlimited, founder of the Fort Peck Chapter of Northerns Unlimited, MT Wildlife Federation, Public Land/Water Access Association and past member of the Glasgow Elks Lodge and served on the Ft Peck Elementary school board.
He is survived by his wife Jeanne of 51 years; son Gregory (Shannon); grandchildren Karissa and Kendal of Ft Peck; Sister-in-law Norita Stewart, Tacoma, WA; nephew Steven (Helen) Liebelt, Palo Alto CA; niece Cindy (Yuki) Naka, Mandeville, LA; Daughter-in-law Julie Liebelt, Houston, TX.
He was preceded in death by both his parents, brother Paul, daughter Kirstin and son Michael.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 12th at St Raphael’s Catholic Church, in Glasgow, at 1:00pm. A reception will follow at the Parish Center with burial at the Ft Peck Cemetery.
In-lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Camp Francis Children’s Bereavement Program or Darcy’s Hope Bereavement Retreat (13-18 year old’s), c/o Benefis Health Care System, Box 7008, Great Falls, MT. 59406-7008, or the Valley Community Food Bank, Box 63, Glasgow, MT 59230.