James Jennings age 93 died December 12, 2023 at the Spearfish Canyon health center in Spearfish, SD.

James Albert Jennings was born November 1, 1930 in Sioux Falls, SD, the only child of Albert and Ruth Jennings. He attended high school in Sioux Falls and graduated from South Dakota State College with a degree in Animal Science.  While at college he met his life partner Emily.  They were married June 18, 1952.

Jim was a city kid, but he learned his life-long appreciation for the Black Hills from his grandfather Peter Norbeck.  As a youth he spent summer vacations with his cousins at Valhalla, the Norbeck cabin in Custer State Park.  Later he had summer jobs haying and fencing in the park.

After US Army service in Korea, Jim and Emily moved to Belle Fourche where he worked for the extension service and then for the First National Bank.  Jim was an ag lender with the bank, ultimately Wells Fargo, until his retirement in 1985.

Banking was a second income for the Jennings family.  In 1962 Jim and Emily realized a dream to be on the ranch and moved to their place on Spearfish Creek. Jim ran a small cow-calf operation and helped Emily with the sheep herd. In 1968 the operation expanded to include one of Jim's life dreams, a "little place in the hills", grazing land at O'neill Pass.They were both active in the ag community.  Jim was a 4-H leader, a school board member and helped to start the Western South Dakota Buckaroos and the Black Hills Regional Multiple Use Coalition.

Jim enjoyed a life of living what he loved. At his bank job he was an integral finance partner with good people that he enjoyed helping.  On the ranch he was a conservative operator, carefully planning conservation improvements and grazing rotations to maximize production on few acres.  In all of this he lived an example of loving his family and his community, and absolute integrity in all that he did.

Jim is survived by his children Dave (Avis) Jennings of Oelrichs, Bruce (Deb) Jennings of Belle Fourche, Laraine Smith of Spearfish and Eric (Michelle) Jennings of Spearfish. Survivors also include grandchildren Ryan (Jessica) Jennings of Spearfish, Paul Jennings of Austin, Texas, Celese Kramlich (Roy) of Spearfish and Keera Smith of Deadwood, and great grandchildren Thomas, Claire, Lorelei, Samuel, and Emma.

A private family memorial service will be held.

A memorial has been established to benefit the Redwater 4-H Council.

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