James “Jim” Edmond Standaert, 70, died suddenly on Feb. 22, 2020 at 8:30pm at home from long term heart and lung health problems. He was born to Basil and Aline Standaert on Jan. 20, 1950 in Yellow Grass, Saskatchewan, Canada. Jim is a first generation American & Canadian because his parents left Belgium soon after they married, had Jim in Canada and then moved with other relatives for a few years to the oil fields in Kansas. They then followed Basil’s dream and settled in the Columbia Basin in Moses Lake, WA and ran a dairy farm. Jim was raised milking cows and bucking hay and enjoying the great central Washington sunshine.
He attended college at Gonzaga University where he met his future wife, Mary Jane (Gagnon) on second base in a baseball game during college orientation. Throughout college, a year in Florence, Italy and many jobs they dated and married on August 20, 1972 in Spokane at Gonzaga where they met. Farming and teaching middle school did not strongly appeal to Jim’s strengths and after the birth of his first son, he decided to pursue a career in Economics. He attended Washington State University to be honored with a Doctoral degree in Economics. After 5 years in Pullman, WA, 7 years in Raleigh, NC, 4 years in Bozeman, MT and 3 sons they moved to Helena, MT in 1989 to be closer to family and to work as a Legislative Fiscal Analyst for the Legislative Services Division for the State of Montana. He retired from there in May, 2013.
Jim’s hobbies were playing with numbers, politics and intellectual pursuits/sparring. Most legislators and co-workers can bear witness to the fact that his gift was making people think and putting solutions into numbers. In his later life, his hobby was teaching the grandkids card tricks. We have had so many laughs over that. Who does that? Jim does and loved every minute. His other passion was seeing the world and traveling as often as money, time, health and wife would allow. Canada, most of the United States, Europe, Costa Rica – he loved them all, has millions of pictures and stories. Our next venture was going to be the northeastern USA and southeastern Canada.
Jim is survived by his wife, Mary Jane and their 3 sons; Lucas 45 from Seattle, Jeffrey 43 and wife Jamie from Florence, MT and Brian 36 from Missoula, MT. 7 grandchildren loved talking, wrestling, traveling and learning card tricks with grandpa. Jina, Calvin, Trevor and Nieves live in Seattle and Andrew, Lydia and Anthony live in Florence, MT. Jim was very fortunate to have the best family – he is survived by his wonderful siblings – Sonia from Greenback, WA, Jan from Enumclaw, WA and Christine from Bothell, WA. There are many other dear and wonderful family members, cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. The family certainly “went forth and multiplied”. And Jim kept in touch with them all, even the cousins in Europe.
Jim is also survived by numerous friends and past co-workers. He loved his monthly ROWMEOs – retired old women and men eating out. He valued his time and service in the Optimist Club and was often excited about their various service projects and donations to the learning and talent development of Helena youth. He was also a main supporter of the folks at Blackfoot Brewery and the many ways they support the community. We all hope those of you who gather in downtown Helena will “raise a glass and tip your hat” to Jim because he loved and valued you very much.
Memorials in Jim’s name can be sent to the Lewis and Clark Library, 120 S. Last Chance Gulch, Helena, MT 59601, since he was a weekly patron or the Optimist Club of Helena – #13065, 1065 Cap Road, Helena, MT 59602. Jim could often be heard saying “There are benefits and costs” to that. He valued learning just about as much as he valued people, so supporting various forms of learning about the world and history were always priorities.
The family will have a celebration of Jim’s life sometime in the spring. Date and location will be announced when decided.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Susan Good Geise says
I have long been a Jim Standaert fan. He was the consummate professional in service to legislators of all persuasions. Matter of fact, thorough and competent. His insights were keen, and offered with quiet good humor.
Rest in peace, Jim.
Susan Good Geise
Daniel Reeves says
I met Jim at the
Blackfoot brewery some yrs back,, i appreciated his humor r, his intelligence, his comment on FaceBook, his easy going nature, his challenging questioning, his demeanor…I will be missing Jim..a very good human being
Nanette LeFebvre says
My heart breaks for Mary Jane and the boys, as well as the numerous friends who adored Jim.
Jim and I were friends, colleagues and former “partners in crime.” I feel like I lost a piece of me. He was such an amazing human being.
James Carlin says
Jim, You are going to be missed at the blackfoot.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Jack Ferriter says
I will miss Jim. I’ve known him for quite some time and always had some laughs and good times. We used to banter back and forth on Facebook over politics and events of the day. He was always challenging and made me see things differently. He expressed an interest in horses and draft horses and learning to drive a team. My heart goes out to his family and grandkids. We’ will meet again someday Jim. God bless you.
Connie Erickson says
I had the great privilege of working with Jim at the Legislature for many years. He was my go-to person for info on school funding bills. He was intelligent as well as humorous. I am so sorry to hear if his passing. Rest easy, Jim.
Kathleen Harrington says
Mary Jane, I am so sorry to hear of the great loss to you and your family.
Terry Skeesick says
MaryJane and family, we are so sorry for your loss. Our prayers and thoughts are with you as you take this journey!
Sincerely,
Jeff and Terry Skeesick
Jon Moe says
Jim was a great friend and coworker in our working days but even a better friend in our retirement years. He has been someone to count on in many ways. He was a good man. I will miss him.
Roger A. Hagan says
I first met Jim in the Capitol in the 1990’s. Since then we have shared many great conversations, mostly Jim leaving me thinking much deeper than I had expected! Since his retirement we would occasionally cross paths at Jorgenson’s and we would have even more in-depth conversations. He was a quiet professional, never openly opinionated, but always able to get both sides of an issue on the table for discussion. I will miss Jim and our conversations. God bless the family.
Robert M Trask says
Mary Jane and sons, Jim and I were friends, classmates, roommates, workmates and brother-n-laws. Jim was a good man and a very smart man. Jim was a clone of his father Basil in almost every way. Prayers for all of you. He was way to young.
Skip Culver says
I cry because he has left us, I smile because he was my friend. That is his legacy.
Joe R Roberts says
I knew Jim in his professional capacity with the Legislature and very much enjoyed talking with him and engaging in some verbal jousting (even though I usually came out on the short end.) It was always pleasant to deal with Jim and his work was always well respected by all political persuasions— the consummate professional. When Jim retired a few sessions ago there was a big void that I doubt has been filled. Condolences to his family— we all lost a very good man.
Dan Johnson says
I met Jim through our mutual friend Terry Gamache. He joined us in Costa Rica as well as our home in the Yakima Valley ,Washington State and Quesnel Lake BC. He always had great humor wished that I had more time with him. Sorry to the family. Dan Johnson
Curt Nichols says
Jim once told me a story about how his dad would pick a topic for evening dinner discussion at random and everyone would jump in. He obviously learned his skill from this practice. He was the “go to” man on school funding in Montana and I often went to him for insight and criticism. He was the reasoned center of our discussions at ROWMEOs. I wish I’d spent more time with him – just didn’t know he was going to leave us so soon.
Janey Dubas says
I enjoyed Jim on face book. He had thought provoking articles. Beautiful pictures of all of his travel and of course Mary Jane at his side . I shall miss his wisdom. So sorry for you loss Mary Jane. Hope to visit with you when I come to Monata a this summer. Your high school friend from Nebraska, Janey Boland Dubas
Eric Vernon says
With great sadness I express condolences to Mary Jane, Jim’s family and friends. Jim and I were fellow travelers with the Rotary Club Group Study exchange program in the spring of 1982. We spent every minute of 2 months together travelling in India, Bangladesh and Nepal, along with the four other members of our group. Jim’s smile and endearing personality made the trip even more memorable and began a friendship of a lifetime. Jim was creative, thoughtful and mischievous. I will never forget the night Jim was honored with his own Turban ceremony given to him by his Sikh host family at one of our stops in India. He inspired people in his own quiet way. May he rest in peace.
Robert Vandeweghe says
Dear Mary Jane,
Dear Lucas, Jeffrey, Brian
We learned monday night that your hudband and father had deceased. First we couldn’t believe it, but finally the terrible news hit in. In name of all the Vandeweghe family in Belgium I want you to offer our sincere condolances,
our thoughts are with you in these heartbreaking times. We only met three or four times. Distance was our worst ennemy, but each time I was overwhelmed by the charm, the wit and the friendliness he embodied.
Take care!
Lydia Standaert says
I have known Jim Standaert my whole life, pretty much because he was my grandpa and was in the hospital when I was born, but he was one of the funnies and free spirited people I knew. I love him with my whole heart he died when I was around 10 years old when he died and it was very hard to hear that news. he was very political and always tried to teach me new things and help me learn new things if I couldn’t figure it out. I love my grandpa so much he was such an amazing person and I loved every bit of time I spent with him.
Love Lydia