James Edgar Artz, 63, of Souris, ND, lost his courageous battle to cancer surrounded by his loved ones at his home on Lake Metigoshe.

James Edgar Artz, the son of Harold and Regina (Fraser) Artz, was born on November 14, 1954 at Bottineau. Jim was raised on the family farm in Antler, ND as the ninth of fifteen children. He was a graduate of Antler High School in 1972, and then attended Bottineau Forestry, where he was a member of the basketball team. He then continued his education at Minot State University, where he was an active member of Mu Sigma Tau fraternity. Jim finished his collegiate career just two credits short of a degree and began several small jobs including operating the fertilizer plant in Antler, oil and gas leasing in Williston, and selling hail insurance out of his vehicle.

On August 1st, 1981, he married the love of his life Kelly Rae Skaaden of Souris. They made their home in Antler and later moved to the Skaaden family farmstead where he began to live out his dream of becoming a farmer. Jim started farming in spring of 1988 and continued to grow his operation until the present day. This past fall they celebrated a record setting wheat crop at the farm. His passion for farming spread further with the many years he spent custom seeding, custom harvesting, and beet hauling. He founded Artz Insurance Agency in 1983 and has built a well known and widely respected business over the past 4 decades. He was a true advocate for agriculture, and it was of utmost importance to him that his clientele was always taken care of.

Jim was a very active member of his community and enjoyed donating his time and efforts to support local businesses and causes whenever possible. He loved to hunt, collected guns, and was a strong 2A supporter. Grenora, ND was near and dear to his heart as he traveled west every year for the pheasant opener and pie auction. He also enjoyed "deer camp", his hunting shack near Lake Metigoshe, and was a member of the local snowmobile club. Softball games with his closest buddies were a favorite memory from younger years. He enjoyed golfing everywhere, but especially at the Westhope Country Club. Summers were spent at Lake Metigoshe boating and entertaining at the cabin in Sunset Bay. He loved a good live band and always saved the first dance for his beautiful wife. Jim never turned down a ribeye and loved a glass of red wine or his famous "Jim and Tonics". He was the biggest fan at his kid's sporting events, including many tailgates at MSU before his son's football games and taking his daughters around the state as the coach of their traveling basketball teams. In recent years, the pride and joy of his life were his two grandchildren, who call him papa.

Throughout his lifetime, Jim served on many local and regional boards, and was a member of the Westhope Country Club, Professional Insurance Agents of North Dakota, Minot State Board of Regents, Antler Jaycees, Antler Outlaws, Eidsvold County Township Board, and an honorary member of the Grenora Women of Today.

Jim's passion in life was forming connections and relationships, a true people person who couldn't go anywhere without running into someone he knew or introducing himself to someone new. The prayers and support he has received over the past few years were humbling and life changing. He loved life and lived it to the fullest. We will miss his intelligence, generosity, infectious smile and big bear hugs.

He is survived by wife Kelly Rae of Lake Metigoshe; children; Kalli (Kevin) Black of Minot, Luke (Mandy) Artz of Bottineau; McKayla Artz of Fargo; grandchildren; Reagan and Rawley Black of Minot; siblings; Jeanne Artz of Minot, Bernice (Phil) of Stilwell, KS, Bill (Trudy) Artz of Westhope, Mike (Ruby) Artz of Antler, Ted (Becky) Artz of Lyleton, SK, Loretta (Art) Pieretti of Maple Valley, WA, Colette (Howard) Cotton of Hillsboro, Leann (Curt) Hall of Berthold, Bob (Brenda) Artz of Minot, Marie (Brandt) Henderson of Norton, MA, Pete (Georgia) Artz of Bottineau, Don Artz of Antler, Marilyn (Tim) Backman of Herman, MN, Pat (Amy) Artz of Bottineau; many beloved nieces and nephews and numerous friends who he considered family.

He was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Jean Artz, his father and mother-in-law Vernon and Darlene Skaaden, his sister-in-law Michelle Skaaden, his brother-in-laws Jerry Schutten and Gary Weydahl, his nephews Benjamin Cotton and Nathan Artz, niece Ashley Artz and great niece, Emily Hall.

Although his time was cut short, Jim's legacy will live on forever through the thousands of lives he has touched. God Bless the memory of James Edgar Artz.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, March 28th at 2:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Westhope. Immediately following the service, a gathering with lunch and fellowship to celebrate Jim will be held at the Cobblestone Inn in Bottineau. Visitation will be Tuesday beginning at 4:00 pm with a prayer service at 6:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Westhope. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to the "Jim Artz Pheasant Release" fund located at State Bank of Bottineau or by donating to your local ambulance and fire department.