James "Jim" Elmer Lunday

James Elmer Lunday, 87, passed away Sept. 17, 2020 in Bismarck, his desire was to be in his own home until the end of his life, and God was merciful, surrounding him with family and loving caregivers who cherished him. He was strong and courageous (Joshua 1:7) living an exemplary life of joy in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Services will be held at the Bismarck Seventh-day Adventist Church, with Pastor Robert Carlson officiating, at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20. Burial will be held at Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Jim was born July 2, 1933, to Elmer Calvin Lunday and Martha Anna Duschka, in the old Lunday farmhouse at the edge of Vesta, Neb.  He lived there with his older sister, Mary, his little white goat, and his dog, Pup.  He enjoyed riding the Shetland pony he won at a fair and being with his cousins and friends.  He was a right-hand man to his dad, working in the fields throughout his childhood and youth.  Jim also liked to go along shopping with his mom.  He was active in the 4H club that his father started.   Early in life, he earned his own money for cars, etc.  He enlisted in the regular U.S. Army, in Beatrice, Neb., on Feb. 3, 1953.  He trained at Camp Chaffee, Ark., and later shipped to Korea, where he served from April 1953 to Oct. 1954.  He camped in a tent in the Northeast corner, one or two miles south of where the demilitarized zone is now.  The winters were just like the ones in North Dakota.  Jim was a criminal investigator and did field work.  Jim caught a North Korean Communist General.  From Korea, he was shipped to North Dakota Military District at Bismarck.  This is where he met his bride-to-be, Berneice Schield, a civil service stenographer.  They were married on Feb. 6, 1956 at the Seventh Day Adventist Church.  After his discharge, they moved back to Beatrice so he could return to his job at the Steel Tank Company.  He thought they held jobs for returning soldiers, but this was not so.  So, when they went back to Bismarck for a wedding, they made their home there.  He worked as a deputy sheriff and jailer for Burleigh County under Sheriff Thistlethwaite’s term.  Then they returned to Vesta and farmed with his father for a period.  Jim then got a job back in Bismarck with the Soil Conservation Service in Hettinger.  In 1959 he went to Union College in Nebraska, on the GI Bill and this led to his eventual work as a self-employed masonry contractor.  His work is seen in many of the homes around Bismarck and surrounding areas.  He helped build the New Salem High School. He was also one of the foremen for the construction of the Bismarck Seventh-Day Adventist Church.  Also, the condos on North Washington and Turnpike street are some of his handy work. He served as an Elder and Treasurer with the SDA church for many years and was also a Pathfinder counselor.  Jim and his wife had four daughters and many dogs.  They enjoyed life at their lake cabin at Lake Isabel in Dawson.  This was the place that brought them great peace and joy.   He also enjoyed coffee with his coffee group at The Whitehouse Café.  Jim was known to many as The Toy Man.  If you needed a certain collectible tractor, he was your man.  He showed his tractors at many shows around the state and out of state.  He won Best Display for his vast collection of tractors at many shows.  He took great pleasure in helping out fellow enthusiasts’ tract down and buy rare parts or tractors.

Jim is survived by three daughters and their husbands, Marga and Lonnie Carlson, Amy and Darrell Hinger, and Bernelda and Randy Lehmann; grandchildren, Arielle (Seibold) Galson and her husband Deron, Cameron Seibold and Tyler Hinger; cousins, LulaBelle Willis and Frank Foetisch; and nephew, Bruce Werman.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary (Fred) Werman; nephew, Leslie Werman; niece, Carolyn Werman; daughter, Noeletta Le Seibold; and Along many aunts and uncles.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorials be sent to Adra, a philanthropic care organization through the SDA church.