James A. Bailey

James “Jim” Ancil Bailey, age 91, of Opheim, Montana, passed away on October 15, 2025, at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital—one day after celebrating 69 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Janet.

Jim was born August 3, 1934, in Glasgow, Montana, the seventh child of Frank W. and Ethel Bailey. He was raised on the family farm northeast of Opheim. Jim attended Colony School in Canada for first and second grade, and then continued his education at Happy Valley School and Opheim High School.

From a young age, Jim had a deep love for horses. As a teenager, he broke horses for friends and neighbors for $5 apiece. On one memorable occasion, when a horse owner couldn’t pay him in cash, he offered Jim any horse from his corral in trade. Jim also helped his sister Eva on her farm when her husband fell ill.

Throughout his early years, Jim worked various jobs: setting telephone poles west of Opheim, doing seismograph work near Wolf Point, and installing water and sewer lines around the community.

In 1956, Jim married Janet Bergstrom. The couple moved several times early in their marriage, including to Vern Solberg’s farm, before settling back on the family farm in 1958, where Jim worked alongside his father. To support his growing family, he also measured land and grain bins for the Farm Service Agency. Together, Jim and Janet farmed and ranched until 1972, when Mayor Don Potter convinced him to take a “temporary” job as Opheim’s Police Chief. That one-year plan turned into a 24-year career. Over the years, Jim also served as the town’s Water, Sewer, and Maintenance Manager, Fire Chief, and Valley County Deputy Sheriff.

He served as Opheim’s Fire Chief for 40 years and continued supporting the town and surrounding area even after his retirement, working in his garage and spending four seasons hauling fertilizer for Pro-Co-op.

Jim and Janet raised four children: Donald James, David Larry, Debra Ethel, and Douglas Frank.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Donnie; brothers Elmo and Lewis Bailey; sisters Eva Siefert, Pauline Nelson, and Eleanor Robinson; brothers-in-law Earl Vinson, Bob Dillard, Bub Siefert, Eugene Nelson, and Clayton Robinson; sisters-in-law Inez and Dorine Bailey, and Marlene Vinson; and many nieces and nephews.

Jim is survived by his wife, Janet; his children David (Cathy) Bailey and Doug Bailey, and daughter Debra Bailey, all of Opheim; his grandchildren Kieren Bailey (Cassidy Huscka) of Dickinson, North Dakota, J.D. Bailey of Opheim, and Stephanie (Tigh) Fuhrman of Richland, Montana. He is also survived by his brother Quannah Bailey of Chester, Montana; brothers-in-law Bob and Larry Bergstrom; and many cherished nieces and nephews.