James Kenneth Stockdill, 81, died Monday, Dec. 22, 2008, at the Benefis Hospital in Great Falls.
Cremation has taken place and his memorial Mass will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008, at St. Jude’s Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the services at the graveside. Memorial contributions in Ken’s honor may be made to the Montana Talking Book Library, P.O. Box 21800, Helena, MT 59620-1800 or to the St. Jude Thaddeus School, 624 4th St., Havre, MT 59501. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Ken was born March 3, 1927, in Monterey, Minn. To Clare and Beatrice (Umhoefer) Stockdill. He had two siblings. He was raised and educated in Minnesota and graduated from Trimont High School in 1945. He entered into the United States Navy and served in World War II; he was honorably discharged in 1947. He studied at Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He went to work in St. Paul, Minn., for Farwell, Ozmun, Kirk and Company. He moved to Havre, Mont., in 1952 and was employed by United Hardware Company as their Sales Representative. He traveled the Hi-Line for forty years serving his hardware customers. On July 23, 1955, Ken married Donna Hafdahl in Havre. The couple lived in Havre and raised their two sons. Ken enjoyed the outdoors. As a young man he enjoyed hunting, fishing, snow and water skiing, gardening and camping. In his later years he enjoyed golfing and playing billiards at the Senior Center. Ken was baptized and raised Catholic and he was a member of St. Jude’s Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Cecil Stockdill. Ken is survived by his wife of 53 years, Donna Stockdill of Havre, Mont.; his two sons: David Stockdill and Scott Stockdill, both of Havre, Mont.; one brother, Robert G. Stockdill of Minneapolis, Minn.; three grandsons; two great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
