Jiggs O'Connell

Funeral services for Jiggs O?Connell, 85, of Dickinson will be 11 a. m. , Saturday, September 6, 2008 at the Belfield Lutheran Church with Pastor Roger Dieterle officiating. Visitation will be 12 p. m. to 9 p. m. Friday, September 5, 2008 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson, ND with family receiving friends from 5 p. m. to 7 p. m. A service will be held at 10 a. m. , Monday, September 8, 2008 at the First Lutheran Church in Philip,SD with burial to follow in the Masonic Cemetery, Philip, SD. Jiggs passed away Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at St. Luke?s Home, his home since April 2000 as a result of Alzheimer?s. Jiggs was born October 1, 1922 on a ranch at Pedro, SD. He attended country school through the ninth grade and graduated from Rapid City High School. Jiggs returned to the family ranch when his brothers were drafted in WW2, as an ear defect kept him from the service. Upon his brother?s return, Jiggs purchased the Badlands Bar in Wall, SD. He sold the bar and moved to Miles City, MT where he purchased the Rendezvous Club. He closed the club, bought cattle and ranched with his brother Jim in Ismay, MT. He bought the Alvin Tescher (Tom Porter) ranch in the North Dakota Badlands in 1958. He and Ardene Wheeler were married on November 15, 1958 at Deadwood, SD. To this union two children were born, Kathy and Scotty Jiggs was very civic minded and worked to get the telephone service in the community, served on the Medora Grazing Board and the Billings County School Board. He was a member of the Belfield Lutheran Church and later St. John?s Lutheran, the Elk?s Club and the North Dakota Stockgrowers. His great love other than family was his Black Angus Cattle. Jiggs is survived by: wife, Ardene, Dickinson, ND; daughter Kathy, Fort Myers, FL; son Scott, Los Angeles, CA; his brother in-law, George Wheeler and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. He is preceded in death by: his parents, Jim and Doris (Daly) O?Connell; three brothers and five sisters. Family suggests memorials to your favorite charity.


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Burial Date: September 8, 2008
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Service: Saturday, Belfield Lutheran Church, Belfield, ND