James Bruce Swank, Sr.

James' Memorial Service will be livestreamed here: https://vimeo.com/846058757

James "Jim" Bruce Swank Sr., 82, was called to his eternal resting place on Friday, July 7, 2023, at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo.

Jim entered this world on July 17, 1940, at home in Egeland, ND, born to Sheldon "Dutch" Bruce and Evelyn Lucy (Summer) Swank. He was married twice before he found the love of his life, Barbara Ann Schielke. They married on October 10, 1994.

Jim attended school in Egeland, ND, and was a member of the class of 1958. After high school, he moved to Fargo and attended North Dakota Agricultural College in the fall of 1958. Jim has held many jobs over the years, but the most impactful job he loved to talk about, was his time working in Seattle, WA; it was the first time Jim traveled out of the state for work. Here he worked with DiMartino Dental Laboratory as a Delivery Boy. However, this job only lasted a month. After that, he went to attend Dakota Business College in Fargo.

After a while, he was a Teaching Assistant under F. Leland Watkins, Sr. Here, he learned about penmanship and the artistic designs Watkins taught. He would also go on to teach many students penmanship and meet one of his few great friends John Stewart. His last job with them was as the Principle of Dakota Business College. He left the Dakota Business College and went to work as an internal auditor for North Dakota State University in 1970. He moved into auditing Ag Payroll and helped spin out and create various departments on the NDSU campus, such as NDSUs Sponsor Programs, Grants & Contracts offices, and the Print & Copy Center. He retired from NDSU in 2016 after 46 years of service.

Jim was a very active gentleman and heavily involved with social organizations dedicated to community service and philanthropy. He was a member of an amateur radio club in the 70s. At this time, Jim met one of his great friends Don Kramer. Don Kramer and Jim created the Emergency Vehicle Assistance and Communications (EVAC) in 1979 and Jim was the first president. Jim joined the Freemasons & Shriners International in 1976. He was the Master of Sunrise Lodge 130 in 1983. He was an active member of the Mobil Nobles of El Zagal Shrine. He achieved his lifetime membership with El Zagal in 2010 and Imperial Lifetime in 2015.

He was also a very avid NDSU Bison Football fan. He had season tickets at the Fargodome ever since the move from Dakota Field. He loved his NDSU Football so much that whenever a player from NDSU played in the NFL, he would watch them or at least the team they played for. He avidly watched and followed about 12 different teams, but his favorite had Bison players on them.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Swank; children, Candace Ann Swank, Justin Bruce (Amanda) Swank, Jessica Rae Schwehr, Ryan John Beery, Eric William (Esmeralda) Dewald, Kristina Marie (Todd) Barton, Jeremy Jason (Amy) Dewald; sixteen grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; ex-wife, Linda Fuglie; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, James "Jimmy" Bruce Swank II; sisters, Ettawyne Lucy Jansen; Darleen Joy Swank and brother Carl Sheldon Swank; and ex-wife, Marie Janice.

There will be a visitation from 9-10am followed by a Masonic Service at 10am and a Memorial Service at 11am on Monday, July 17, 2023 at Olivet Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND. The service will be live-streamed on the funeral home website.

The family requests that memorial donations be directed to: Shriners Hospital for Children, Olivet Lutheran Church, RiteCare Fargo or CHI Friendship.