James Blakeman, 85, of Sturgis, passed away on October 24, 2012 at Sturgis Regional Senior Care.

Visitation will be at 7:00 P.M., Thursday, October 25, 2012 at Old Apostolic Lutheran Church in Spearfish. Funeral services will be at 9:00 A.M. Friday, October 26, at the church with burial at Black Hills National Cemetery.

James was born on October 31, 1926 to Fred and Francis (Roberts) Blakeman in Carlile, WY. He attended school in Moorcroft, served in the US Navy from May of 1945 until October of 1947, worked on the railroads in Wyoming, was an over the road truck driver, and retired from the Ft. Meade VA Medical Center as ground maintenance and transportation supervisor. James was also a longtime member of the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his children; Judy (Bill) Hayes and Edith (Jim) Bunn, Sheridan, WY; Norma (Larry) Nelson, James (Debbie) Blakeman, Fred Blakeman, Betty Bailey, and Leslie (Judy) Blakeman, Sturgis; Francis Richards, Nisland and Linda (Bob) Brown, Spearfish; 57 grandchildren; 158 great-grandchildren seven great-great grandchildren; siblings Marabell Gates and Robert Blakeman, Sheridan; Dallas Blakeman, Hancock, MI; Lois Morgan, Gillette, WY; Ima Massie, St. Onge and Tom Blakeman, Mesa, AZ.

He was preceded in death by his wives Pearl in 1983 and Dorothy in 1994; son, Bill; son-in-law, Tom Richards; grandson, Ryan; great-grandchildren Ashley, Lanaya and Starr; siblings Richard, Kenneth, Ben, Ted, Calvin, Elaine, and Lillian.