James Samuels

Funeral mass for James Samuels will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with Msgr. Thomas Richter celebrating. Burial will follow at the ND Veteran’s Cemetery in Mandan. Military honors will be presented by Dickinson American Legion Post #3 Honor Guard.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 19th from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Stevenson Funeral Home with Rosary and vigil service held at 6 p.m.

For those attending, please follow recommendations from the CDC and ND Department of Health. If you are unable to attend you may view the live webcast of Jim’s funeral service, rosary and vigil. Go to the Stevenson Funeral Home website, click on Jim’s photo, select photos and videos and find the webcast. The livestream will be active about 15 minutes before the services.

A sailor has been called home. James (Jim) A. Samuels passed away Jan. 14, 2021, at St. Luke’s after a short illness. He was born Jan. 29, 1935, to Forrest and Annabell (Zinsli) Samuels of Beach, ND, the oldest of four siblings.

He joined the Navy in 1953 and served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Princeton CV37 in charge of spare parts with rank of SK3 patrolling the South Pacific. The last six months of service was in the Philippines as a military driver. He was honorably discharged in 1957. He was very proud to serve his country.

He married Cecelia Dobrowski on Nov. 20, 1957 (after a three-year courtship by mail while serving in the Navy) at St. Philips, MT. They made their home in Glendive, MT where they raised their five children. He worked 40 years in the oil industry starting as a floor hand, working up to assistant superintendent. The last few years before retirement he was in the Safety Division earning many awards.

He was Chapter Chairman of the American Petroleum Institute in the 1960s and 1970s, belonged to the Williston Basin Safety Council, was a life member of the Elks, and a charter member of the Stark County Veterans Memorial Association.

He treasured his time and memories of fishing at Pocahontas Resort with his kids and grandkids and great-grandkids. Over 57 years of going to Dead Lake, many fish were caught, lost, fileted and shared with family and friends.

After retiring he liked woodworking, gardening, and helping out neighbors. He was the “Neighborhood Watch.” After he couldn’t drive he loved riding his electric scooter around the neighborhood and made many friends. He also rode his scooter to the Veterans Memorial to pray for the vets gone before and those still here.

He is survived by his wife, Cecelia, of 63 years, his children, Bernadette Hogan, Alexandria, MN, Paul (Michal) Mesa, AZ, Rodney (Suzette) Weston, Wl, Keith (Dawn) Wahpeton, ND and Kyle (Barb) Avon, MN; grandchildren Ashley Hogan Eckhoff and Cory Hogan, Christopher, Isaac and Colin Samuels, Elliot and Stevie Samuels, Aaron and Zack Samuels; five great-grandchildren, Brady, Samuel, Dorothy (Dot), Rylie, Eli; siblings Claude, Gary and Colette.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother-in-law David Wilburn, sister-in-law P.J. Samuels and grandson Juan Samuels.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Stark County Veterans Memorial Association, PO Box 929, Dickinson, ND 58601 or charity of your choice.