James A. Leadbetter passed away December 9, 2023 at SMP Health – St. Raphael, Valley City under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley at the age of 99. His funeral service will be 11:00 am, Saturday, December 16 at Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City with visitation one hour before the funeral service at the chapel. Burial will be at Memory Gardens in the spring.
James Arthur Leadbetter was born December 7, 1924 to Olive (Bragg) and Harrison D. Leadbetter in Baldwin Township, Luverne, ND. He was confirmed at Minnie Lake Lutheran Church and was the only student in his class, graduating in 1943 from Baldwin High School. Jim loved to play basketball and played in the Barnes County Tournament. He was called to duty in WWII, while on the bus to basic training the war ended.
Jim met his future wife while in school and on June 12, 1945 he married Virginia Weaver. They farmed in Baldwin and Grand Prairie Township for 54 years before moving to Valley City in 1999. To this union four children were born. Gerald (Pearl) Battle Lake, MN, James (Marie) Valley City, Randy (Barb) Carrington, ND, Janell (Kenneth) Grudniewski, Fulda, MN. Jim was also blessed with 12 grandchildren, Lisa (Patrick) Eisele, Jeremy Leadbetter, Nicholas Leadbetter, Jill (Jeff) Olson, Kristin (Michael Lyman) Leadbetter, Michael (Melanie) Leadbetter, Trudy (Rob) Hanson, Breanna (JD) Dunn, Sean (Sami Morris) Leadbetter, Amy (Mike) Singsaath, Kendra (Chris) Roberts, Amber (Jason) Biling and 19 great grandchildren.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia, his parents, a sister Evelyn Flesberg, a brother Dwayne, half-brother Kenneth Heimbush and half-sister Kathleen Tobleman.
He was a member of the Grand Prairie and Pillsbury School Board and Valley City Eagles Club for 56 years where he met his very special friend Doris Aas. They loved to dance and play music together.
A very special thank you to Virginia Zubrod and Hospice of the Red River Valley for the wonderful care Jim received.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel Valley City, ND. An online guestbook is available at www.olivernathanchapel.com