James Metheny

James Ellis Metheny, 78, Of West Fargo, N.D. passed away from lung cancer on the 7th of May at about 10:30 PM in his sleep. Jim was at the Essentia Hospital, Fargo.

Jim was born on June 30th 1944 in Plymouth, IN to Mrs. Phyllis Ann Metheny and Mr. Ellis Leroy Metheny. Jim graduated from high school in Lewiston. Illinois in the spring of 1962. He then worked at our families Ace Hardware store in Towner, North Dakota until joining the U.S. Army in 1964 and served until July of 1967 and received an honorable discharge. He then opened up an Arctic Cat snowmobile dealership in 1968 and ran this company for about two years. Jim was then employed by No-Dak Mutual Insurance Company for a little over a year until deciding to be a North Dakota Highway Patrolman in October of 1971. Jim served the North Dakota Highway Patrol for the next 28 years until he retired with honors in April of 1999.

Jim got married to Colleen Pierce in 1971 and they had two boys - Sean and Wade Metheny. Colleen and Jim resided in Grand Forks and Fargo where they started to raise their beautiful boys. They were divorced in 1975.

Jim remarried in 1976 to Karen Josephson of Bismarck North Dakota and they resided in Fargo North Dakota for the next 47 years until Jim’s death May 7th of this year. Karen and Jim had no children.

Jim worked with his best friend, Don Kounovsky, off and on buying and selling used cars. Jim met Don through the Highway Patrol and became very good friends through the years.

Jim’s main hobby was restoring old cars. His remaining cars includes a 1957 Cadillac, 1940 Packard Roadster and a 1971 Z28 Camaro. Jim loved his old cars and belonged to the Fargo “Valley Vintage Car Club” since 2007 and had many good friends there. The Club met every Wednesday evening at Duane Gier’s Fargo’s Finest Body Shop. Many hours were spent there swapping lies with guys. It was one of Jim’s favorite things to do. He loved those guys and always had nice things to say about them all. I am sure they will miss him.

Jim is survived by his first wife Colleen Baker and his current wife Karen Metheny and his sons Wade and Sean Metheny. Sean’s beautiful sons Pierce, Caulder and Marcus Metheny. Wades lovely daughter Veda. His sister Ellen Thompson and his Brother Kevin Metheny along with cousins, nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents Phyllis Ann and Ellis Leroy Metheny: paternal grandparents Anna and Andrew Metheny: maternal grandparents Olive and Chester Olsen.

Family prefers memorials go to the American Cancer Society.

Visitation: Thursday, May 11, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the West Funeral Home, West Fargo.

Funeral Service: Friday, May 12, 2023 at 11:00 AM at West Funeral Home, West Fargo with visitation one hour prior. 

Burial:  Friday, May 12, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Fargo National Cemetery at Harwood, ND.

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