James “Jamie” H. DeMoe, 51, of Moorhead, MN, formerly of Tioga, ND, passed away Saturday, February 18, 2023 at the Lilac Homes Assisted Living Memory Care in Moorhead, MN.

James “Jamie” Helming DeMoe was born on June 30, 1971 in Tioga, ND. He was the sixth of six children born to Galen and Gail DeMoe. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Thomas Catholic Church. He was raised in Tioga and graduated from Tioga High School in 1989.

He was blessed with a beautiful daughter, Savannah, in union with Chelsey Determan. There was never a father more in love and proud than Jamie was. His hope was that he would be able to attend her high school graduation. Savannah, he will always be by your side, not only at your graduation, but at all of your life’s events.

Jamie attended Bismarck State College for Power and Process Technology. Throughout the years he worked for various workover rig companies in the Tioga area with a lot of his best buddies. His last job was at the Heart-E Water Depot.

He had a special love for his friends and that love was reciprocated like none other. They all had special nicknames for each other that summed them up perfectly. Jamie aka Lightweight. He loved when they took him for rides in their trucks while he jammed out to 70’s and 80’s rock n roll. He also enjoyed the weekend getaways with two of his lady friends, joining them in foo foo coffee drinks and crumpets. His best friend, Rikki Rice, and the others were by his side through every step of his diagnosis until the end.

Jamie was diagnosed in 2007 with carrying the PS1 gene mutation that caused Early Onset Familial Alzheimer’s Disease, although his symptoms didn’t arrive until later. He fought the disease with everything he had by participating in research and drug trials for years. He was determined to do anything he could to spare others from this devastating disease.

He was especially proud of the book written about the DeMoe family titled “The Inheritance: A Family on the Front Lines of the Battle Against Alzheimer’s Disease" written by Niki Kapsambelis.

Jamie is survived by his daughter, Savannah DeMoe of Tioga, ND; sister, Karla (Matt) Hornstein of Fargo, ND; brother, Dean (Deb) DeMoe of Williston, ND; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jamie was preceded in death by his parents, Galen and Gail DeMoe; brother, Brian; sister, Lori McIntyre; brother, Doug; grandparents; and many other relatives who also succumbed to Early Onset Familial Alzheimer’s Disease.

Memorial Contribution