James “Jim” Chapel
James “Jim” Chapel, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather took his final ride into the sunset Wednesday evening, September 27, 2023.
Jim was born on September 7th, 1942, in Anaconda, Montana, when his mom Marie was visiting her sister. His father Eugene “Gene” Chapel and mother Marie Gale Chapel raised him and his brothers in the Gibson country of Sweetgrass County south of Shawmut, Montana. He attended a one-room grade school called Knob Hill through 8th grade and then attended high school in Big Timber, Montana. He spent his summers working dude ranches as a teenager. After graduating high school, he joined the Army Reserves and guided hunters in the winter.
On September 25, 1962, Jim married Freda Widaman of Livingston, Montana, in Saint Anthony, Idaho. Together they had one daughter and two sons. During that time, they lived in Melville, Montana; Big Timber, Montana; Billings, Montana, and the current home place in Ballantine, Montana.
Growing up on the family home place in the Gibson country, he learned his way around livestock, farming, and sheep shearing. Those skills would serve him his entire life. Jim sheared sheep in the springtime for 36 years from working on crews that took him to Utah, Nevada, and Idaho to running his own crews in Montana. That family work tradition was carried forward with both his sons. In the summer Jim did custom haying for many years until he had a farm of his own to work. He worked in the fall time at Public Auction Yards (PAYS) going full time in 1995 as Yard Foreman. In total Jim worked 46 years for PAYS until he retired.
Jim knew his way around horses. He participated in chariot racing where he made his way to the Nationals one year. He also enjoyed racing quarter horses for a few years. However, most of his time in the saddle was spent in the many years he worked at PAYS sorting and pushing cattle. His skill with horses was passed to his daughter where she rode, trained, and showed horses including rodeo.
When he made time for fun, he loved packing into the mountains on horses and mules with family and friends to fish the mountain lakes. He also enjoyed hunting, again packing into the mountains with family and friends.
Jim is survived by his wife of 61 years, Freda; his daughter Patti (Ron), son James Jr. “Bud” (Aniesha), son Bob (Debbie); granddaughters and grandsons Alicia Pollock, Matthew Pollock, Kayli Mort (Cole), Bobby Chapel, Tylor Hudon (Kayla), Tanner Chapel, Anyssa Chapel, Austin Chapel, Tori Chapel; nine great grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces.
Jim is preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, and his three brothers Eugene, George, and Gary.
Services will be Saturday, October 21 at 1:00pm at Smith Funeral Chapel, 925 South 27th Street, Billings, Montana. Interment will follow at Pleasantview Cemetery, Ballantine, Montana. In lieu of flowers Jim’s wishes are memorials to be sent to the Huntley Project FFA, 1477 Ash Street, Worden, MT 59088.
