James E. "Jim" Haivala, 65, Spearfish, SD, passed away April 21, 2012 from injuries sustained from an ATV accident.

Jim was born in Spearfish on December 4, 1946. He was raised in Buffalo SD where he graduated from high school in 1964. Jim enlisted in the Air Force in September 1964. After training in Texas, he was stationed in Okinawa as a Communications Center Specialist until 1966. From Okinawa, he was sent to Germany until 1968 at which time he re-enlisted and was sent to Athens Greece. In 1969, He met and married Nancy Sigmon who was there visiting from North Carolina. Jim and Nancy stayed in Greece until 1972, at which time they were transferred to San Antonio Texas.

After a year in Texas, Jim was sent to Thailand on a one year remote tour and Nancy spent the year with her family in North Carolina. Upon leaving Thailand, Jim retrained to become an Air Force Recruiter, completing his training in Texas and then stationed in Kansas City, MO. While in Kansas City, their daughter, Kristi Leigh was born on July 8, 1975. From Kansas City, they were sent to Bismarck, North Dakota where Jim recruited for one year. He was then sent to Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota to become Recruiting Operations Supervisor. Jim left Recruiting service and was stationed at Davis Monthan AFB, in Tucson Arizona as Superintendent of Communications Plans and Programs in 1979. In 1980, Jim, Nancy and Kristi headed back to Germany where they served at Sembach Air Base until 1982. From Germany, they were sent to Mildenhal AB in England, where Jim would finish up his 20 year Air Force career. During Jim's off duty time while in the Air Force, he took night classes at various colleges to get his degree in Telecommunication Systems Technology.


Upon retirement from the Air Force in 1984, Jim, Nancy and Kristi moved back to Tucson where Jim went to work for the Federal Government, Civil Service as a Telecommunications Manager.
Jim worked in Phoenix for a year, commuting back and forth. After a year, he was transferred to Tucson, where he spent the next three years.


In 1989, Jim was promoted to Area Telecommunications Manager for Arizona and Southern Nevada and moved the family to Mesa Arizona where he held this position until taking early retirement when he turned 55, in 2001. Jim Moved to Spearfish, South Dakota in 2003, and he spent the winter months in Mesa, AZ. Jim joined and became a very active member of Spearfish Lions Club, and was an avid golfer and Texas-Hold'em player.

He is survived by daughter, Kristi Haivala, Los Angeles, CA, three brothers and two sisters:
Harry (Irene) Haivala, Belle Fourche, SD, Mona (Marv) Nussbaum, Mesa, AZ, twin brother, John (Judy) Haivala, Spearfish, SD, Leone (Dick) Billmeyer, Bella Vista, Arkansas, and Gene (Diane) Haivala, Buffalo, SD. He was preceded in death, by his wife, Nancy, his parents, Gus and Muriel Haivala and three brothers, Paul, Kenny and Lenny.


Memorial services will be held on Sat. April 28, 2012 at 1:00 PM at the United Methodist Church in Spearfish. Committal will be held on Monday, April 30, 2012 Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD. A memorial has been established to the Spearfish Lions Club for Sight and Service and Lions Memorial Park.