James (Billy/Jim) William Williams was born on January 22, 1942, in Bremerton, Washington to Herbert (Bill) Lenox Williams and Phyllis Elma (Wood) Williams. His father had joined the Army and was sent there for training. It always irked Jim that he wasn’t born in Montana! His mother took Billy and his older brother, Jerry, back to Helena, Montana. He was Billy as a child, but when he was in high school, he declared that his name was James, and he wanted to be called Jim, so he became Jim. The rest of us called him son, brother, cousin, husband, dad, uncle, grandpa, friend, and Elk Horn Freighter.
Growing up on Beattie Street, he had the run of downtown Helena. He went to Central Elementary School and graduated from Helena High School in 1960. In 1958, his life changed forever when, after returning from a summer with his Aunt Hazel in California, Jim saw the new car hop at the RB Drive-In while he and his best friend, Dan Johnson, were “cruising the drag.” For Jim, it was love at first sight. Dan had already met another new girl in town, and Jim laid claim to this girl. On his second date with Carol, he told her he was going to marry her. She graduated from high school in 1961, and they got married on June 24th. It was a lifelong love for them both. They had been married 62 years when Carol passed away in 2023.
Jim attended Denver University after high school, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with the honor of Cum Laude. He also became a Mason, sponsored by his father. He studied to become a Certified Public Accountant and passed the CPA exam as a Junior in college. He was soon working as an accountant as he finished his degree, with the support of his wife. Jim was a morning coffee drinker, but Carol wasn’t. There is a story that he said she couldn’t get pregnant until she learned to drink her coffee black and made sure he had his coffee each morning! In 1966, he applied for the position as Controller at Diamond Fruit Growers in Hood River, Oregon. He was hired and he and his coffee drinking pregnant wife moved to Hood River. His daughter, Wendy Lianne was born in September of 1966 and his son Kirk Thomas was born in May of 1969. He was an active member of the Lions Club and the Elks Club. He was an immediate success as an accountant, and after only a few years with Diamond Fruit, he opened his own accounting firm, eventually opening other offices in Oregon and Washington, along with opening shops that sold Earth Stoves. He got his pilot’s license so he could visit his various businesses.
Jim had a zest for life, he worked hard so he could play hard. Jim was a family man and took his kids everywhere he and Carol went. He went camping, fishing, and hunting all over Oregon, frequenting the mountains, rivers and the coast. He bought a boat, (named it the Wendy-K), and brought it to rivers, lakes and the Pacific Ocean. He went salmon fishing in the ocean, navigating the treacherous Columbia River Bar to catch the best salmon with his friends. They camped in the boat, went water skiing, fishing, swimming, caught crawdads by the dozens, and anchored in the river or lake to watch 4th of July Fireworks. He spent many weekends with his family and friends on a ranch across the river in Washington, at a cabin in Anthony Lakes, at a condo in Bend, riding motorcycles, hiking, cross-country skiing, and downhill skiing. In Montana, he developed a love for horses. He and Carol, along with friends and family, vacationed across the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. With his friends and family, he played games, cards, marbles, handball, you name it.
In 1979, Jim packed up his family, and along with his brother Dan and his new family, moved to Montana. Living in cabins built by their grandparents in the 1930s on McClellen Creek, both families set out to build homes. Jim and Dan bought a sawmill and with the help of family and friends, they set out to build two homes. The kids soon learned to entertain themselves away from the work sites to avoid being put to work! Both families lived like homesteaders, without running water, heating their homes with wood-burning stoves and cooking on wood stoves, using the outhouse in all weather and heating the sauna once a week to bathe. Jim, Carol, Wendy and Kirk moved into the shell of their home on November 13, 1979, after Wendy had mice get tangled in her hair overnight and Carol insisted they get out of the cabin! Jim and Carol designed and built a beautiful home with many personal Montana touches and antiques. Jim dove into life in Montana, and soon had horses and like-minded friends, the Elk Horn Freighters. With them, he went on weekend and weeklong trips throughout the Elk Horn mountains, into the Pintler Range, and anywhere else anyone wanted to go. They set up elaborate hunting camps and packed in on horses everything except the kitchen sink! They made their own mark on the Elk Horns, including a couple of their own trails! (Don’t take Voodoo Trail!) There are still supplies stashed in the mountains, just waiting for the Freighters to take their next ride.
In 1981, they bought the Broadwater Athletic Club and Hot Springs. Jim grew it to three clubs and used his success at the Broadwater to support many organizations in Helena. In 2001, they bought the Helena Curves franchise. In 1995, they moved from the mountains to the lake, buying and renovating a condo at Lakeside, on Houser Lake outside Helena. At both the McClellen Creek home and their Lake home, they hosted many parties for family and friends. Everyone knew Carol and Jim could throw a great party with great food, and many fond memories were made at those events (except, maybe, when Kirk got run over by Wendy in her Subaru when they were sledding!). They were able to retire in 2015. By this time, they had been spending months traveling in their motor home. It wasn’t long before they became full-time snowbirds, heading south for the winter, living in their motor home.
In 1999, Kirk married Lee and Wendy married Bruce, immediately giving Jim and Carol 5 bonus grandchildren. In February of 2000, James Edward Ewals was born, and in May Cameron James Williams came into this world. These two boys and their grandpa would be nicknamed “The James Boys.” Jim was entranced by his grandchildren. He took them camping, fishing, boating, and tubing. He taught James to hunt. He told them stories of his youth, sometimes several times! James was especially lucky, getting to spend many days with his grandpa (and grandma) at the Broadwater, at their lake home, hunting with his grandpa, and camping with them both.
In 2021, Wendy and Kirk helped them both move back to Montana from Arizona. They lived in their motor home until moving into a retirement home, eventually landing in an apartment in Touchmark. Carol’s health had steadily been declining, and she passed away in 2023. Jim’s lifelong back problems, history of lung cancer, and general decline lead to his hospitalization on Christmas Eve, 2024. Kirk came from Colorado. Jim was visited by many loved ones while hospitalized. He was surrounded by Wendy, Kirk and James as he took his last breath in the early morning hours of January 5th, 2025, knowing he would soon be in the loving arms of Jesus.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother Gerald Richard Williams, his wife Carol Ann (Rygg) Williams, his beloved nephew Mitch Rygg, aunts, uncles, and many of his good friends. He is survived by his daughter Wendy Lianne (Bruce) Ewals, son Kirk Thomas Williams, daughter-in-law Leonora Colavito Williams, grandchildren James Edward Ewals, bonus grandchildren Dillon Ewals, Ashley (Shane) Brown, Cameron James Williams, bonus grandchildren Nicholas (Rachel) Colavito, William (Alicia) Colavito, Thomas (Stephanie) Colavito, and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by many good friends and much-loved sisters and brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews.
A service will be held on May 17, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Life Covenant Church at 800 N Hoback in Helena, MT. A luncheon will follow at the church. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Jim.
Jim Wilcox & Sally Russell says
Jim was a great guy. Thoughts and prayers with his family.
Chine Strobel says
Jim had a great sense of humor and was such a nice guy. He will be missed. Thoughts and prayers to his family.
Kaimy Marks says
Jim and Carol were wonderful people that lived an adventurous life. What a beautiful love story! We enjoyed lots of fun times at the Broadwater years ago and it was always enjoyable to see Jim or Carol and say hello. Jim recently reminisced the days he spent on horseback with the Elkhorn Freighters. Lots of exciting, dangerous times spent with friends navigating the backcountry! He was a great storyteller with a fantastic sense of humor. He’s finally reunited with the love of his life. ❤️ He will be missed.
Rick O'Connell says
Always looked forward to bs’ing with Jim. His infectious smile, wisdom and wit will be missed. My thoughts go out to Carol and the family.
John Larson says
Jim was a great person. He was a huge supporter of handball in Helena. He will be truly missed. Thoughts and prayers to his family.
Bill Bentley says
Jim was a great guy. Very generous. He was always willing to help out with sponsorships to help us attend competitions.
Cindy Sparing says
Lianne and Kurt. I will always remember your dad. He was a legacy! I am so sorry for your loss.
Dean Retz says
I went to grade school and high school with Jim and was so exited when he returned to Helena after a very successful career. Was a member of the Broadwater Health club for years because of Jim. GOD BLESS.
Anna (kincl) Salini says
Jim you and your late wife Carol were the best. We had great times at the Broadwater even when your were upset with some things I did. You guys were the greatest neighbors. You are so missed. I remember the fire when you had all your horses tied to door handles coming down the road. I will miss you and pray for you always.
Deanna Johnson says
Dear Carol, my heart and thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family as you navigate life without Jim.
I still think of you two when I’m at the Broadwater.
Jim and you were always so kind and friendly in the midst of all the work involved in running the business.
Blessings.
Deanna Johnson