James "Jim" Andrew Anderson, born February 2, 1940, passed away on October 17, 2025, surrounded by his loving family and the incredible care team at Heartland Senior Living in Spearfish, SD. He left this world the way he lived in it — peacefully, with grace, and just a little bit of stubbornness.

Born in Deadwood, SD to Andy and Dorthea Anderson, Jim was a proud graduate of Spearfish High School, class of 1958 — a time when Elvis was king and Jim was already mastering the art of storytelling. If you ever needed to know the location of a hidden spring or the best gulch to explore in the Black Hills, Jim was your guy. His mental map of the Hills was so precise, we suspect he might've had pine needles in his DNA.

In September 1958, Jim enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served with honor until 1962. He never bragged about it, but you could tell by the way he stood tall and never backed down from a challenge — even if that challenge was a stubborn lawnmower or a leaky faucet.

After his service, Jim headed to Las Vegas, NV, where he worked at the Nevada Test Site and, more importantly, met the love of his life, Bertha "Bert." They married on March 16, 1974, and eventually returned to South Dakota to raise their family and enjoy the kind of small-town life that suited Jim's big heart.

Jim worked at the Bentonite plant in Colony, Wyoming, commuting daily from Spearfish — a drive most would dread, but Jim took it in stride, probably with a thermos of coffee and a few good country tunes. He never complained, never grumbled, and always made sure his family had everything they needed. His work ethic was legendary, his patience unmatched, and his sense of humor quietly brilliant.

Jim is survived by his beloved Bert; his children Jamey (Ladonna) Anderson and Jessica (Brandon) Murray; Bert's son John Baley; siblings Janet (John) Ladson, Jack Anderson, and Jeannie Faucheaux; and a lively bunch of grandchildren: Cory, Alisa, Fritz, Edward, Dylan, Jeanisa, Isis, and Andy. He's now reunited with his parents, Andy and Dorthea, sisters Ella May and Joan, and grandson Christopher Baley and many other family and friends — all likely swapping stories and keeping watch over the rest of us.

A small service with full Military honors will be held at the Black Hills National Cemetery on Friday, November 7, 2025, at 11:00 AM. Bring your best Jim story — the funnier, the better — and help us send off a man who lived with purpose, loved with his whole heart, and left behind a legacy of grit, grace, and good humor.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com