James Bahr

James Orville Bahr, 74, of Groton, South Dakota passed away unexpectedly of natural causes Saturday, November 26 while deer hunting.  Memorial service will be Saturday, December 3rd, 1:00pm, at Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Groton.  Visitation will be at the Funeral Home Friday, December 2nd, 5-7pm, with Prayer service following at 7.

Jim was born in Aberdeen on June 17, 1948 to Orville and Donna (Craig) Bahr. He was raised on the family farm north of Groton, the oldest of eight siblings. On August 5, 1967 he was united in marriage to Linda Fransen and they made their home in the Groton area.  They were blessed with one son, Jimmy. 

Jim worked for the South Dakota Department of Transportation for 34 1/2 years in Aberdeen, ultimately the foreman of the concrete crew. Jim was a Union man. He was the president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Union, Council 59, for 22 years.  He had a special bond with all his Council 59 members. 

During the summer season Jim and Linda spent weekends at Indian Creek (Mobridge) and Pickerel Lake camping and fishing.  He was often affectionately known as “Boy Scout Bob”, cutting wood, tending the fire and everything else.

Jim was a passionate and respected outdoorsman.  Jim fished and always caught fish.  He was an avid hunter and loved hunting.  He hunted elk in Colorado, fished in Canada, hunted turkeys (East River and West River).  He hunted swan, antelope, doves, and pheasants. Jim generously shared his bounty with family and friends. Jim also enjoyed sharing his hunting passion with the next generation.  When he took his son and nephews hunting, he told them to “keep shooting. I have lots of shells and you won’t get any better if you don’t shoot.”

After retirement Jim volunteered as a campground host at Roy Lake State Park for eight years, and then two years as a maintenance volunteer. These positions gave him ample opportunity to fish daily and keep busy cutting down trees. He enjoyed making friends at the campground, and took pride in his many beautiful flowers. Jim had an amazing knowledge of birds and enjoyed tending to them. Jim helped his neighbors with anything they needed both at home and on the campground.

Grateful for having shared Jim's life are his wife, Linda of 55 years, his son, Jimmy (Heidi) of Utah , three grandsons, Justin, Brock and Brand and three great grandchildren.  His siblings, Bonnie (Alan) Nierman, Patty (Wayne) Hein, Loren Bahr, Tammy (Vern) Heilman, Lonny (Brenda) Bahr. He was also survived by many nieces and nephews, who he thought so much of. Preceding him in death were his parents, his brothers, Larry, and Doug and sister-in-law, Pam, and nephew Phil Adler.

Carlsen Funeral Home and Crematory of Aberdeen is entrusted with arrangements.

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