James W. Danks

James “Jim” Danks
BIRTH
9 Apr 1927
DEATH
26 Oct 2016 (aged 89)
Killdeer, Dunn County, North Dakota, USA
BURIAL
Burial Details Unknown, Specifically: Burial will take place at Danks Family Cemetery at the Bench Cross Ranch.
MEMORIAL ID
221460496 · View Source
MEMORIAL
PHOTOS 1
FLOWERS 0
James “Jim” Danks, 89, Killdeer, formerly of Mandaree, died Oct. 26, 2016, at Hill Top Home of Comfort, Killdeer. Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. CDT Monday, Oct. 31, at Water Chief Hall, Mandaree, with the Rev. Roger Synek celebrating. Burial will take place at Danks Family Cemetery at the Bench Cross Ranch. Military rites will be by the Myron B. Johnson Nathan Good Iron Post No. 271 of Mandaree.

Visitation will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. CDT Sunday at Stevenson Funeral Home, Killdeer, with a wake service being held at 6 p.m. CDT Sunday at Water Chief Hall, Mandaree.

Jim Danks was born April 9, 1927, in Elbowoods, to Maurice and Clara Hall Danks; their eldest son, of a family that included five brothers and four sisters. He grew up dividing his time between the family’s school home on Bluewater Creek near his maternal grandparents in Elbowoods and their ranch in the Raub area. His boyhood years were spent in the family tradition of raising and breaking horses with the Wilkinson and Young Bear boys. Some of his fondest memories were of the secretive rodeos produced by his brothers and sisters, who rode the milk cows while his parents took the cream to town. He attended Elbowoods High School and was active in football.

Jim enlisted in the Navy during World War II, where he served as motor machine mate, navy seaman third class. He saw action in the Pacific Theater on the Island of Guam. Jim was one of only a few remaining World War II Veterans on Fort Berthold. He married Elsie Scheuffele in Dunn Center in 1947. Together, they raised five sons on the Bench Cross Ranch east of Mandaree, which he established in 1954. He also worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Sub Agency office as a range conservationist in the ’70s. He was instrumental in assisting his tribe in establishing the Buffalo Project. He served his community on the local school board and the Community Action Program.

Jim was an avid stockman. He held several terms on the executive board of the Fort Berthold Land and Livestock Association. He was also a strong advocate on range conservation issues and served the Dunn County Soil Conservation District Board.

In his later years, he assisted his sons with the development of the Skunk Bay Recreation area and was active in the organization of the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, where he was a trustee. Jim was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9061. He was a proud descendent of his Great Uncle, the famous cowboy, Clayton Danks and participated in his honor in the Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Like most stockmen, he appreciated working his cattle on a good cutting horse. Some of his favorites were Little Red, Sorrell, Skags and a bay he called Reggie. He believed in hard work and finishing the job; even if it meant branding calves in the headlights at midnight. His hobbies were reading and playing cards, which he especially enjoyed with his paternal uncles when they visited.

Jim is survived by his companion, Phyllis O’Neil, Killdeer; his sons, Edward and Ted (Cheryl) Danks, Bismarck, and Ken (Cyndy) and Curtis Danks, both of Mandaree; his brothers, John Danks and Solly Danks, New Town, and Maurice Danks, Dodge; and one sister, Fern Greff, Garrison.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Quentin Crowe and Richard Crowe; three sisters, Carolyn Chase, Marcella Aldinger and Viola Schettler; one son, Lyle Danks; and one granddaughter, Samantha Danks.

The family requests all donations to be directed to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9061, Mandaree, and/or the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame in Medora.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.stevensonfuneralhome.com.

Family Members
Parents
Maurice M Danks
1887–1958

Clara C Hall-Crow Danks
1891–1970

Siblings
Marcella Aldinger
Marcella Danks Aldinger
1925–2012

Viola C Schettler
1929–2002

Fern Greff
Fern Adele Danks Greff
1937–2021

Children
Lyle Danks
Lyle Clayton Danks
1953–2015

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/221460496/james-danks