James Michael O'Toole, 98, Sidney, MT formerly of Froid, MT, passed away on Saturday October 14, 2023 at the Sidney Extended Care Facility in Sidney, MT surrounded by family.

James Michael O’Toole was born September 21, 1925, in Plentywood, Montana to Frank and Bessie O’Toole. He joined older brother Fran and was soon a big brother to Gene, Jerry, and Vanessa. At the age of 8, Jim was in a tragic accident which resulted in the loss of his arm. Some of his recovery time was spent in the Shriners’ Hospital in Great Falls, and soon after his mother died of TB. The boys “bached” in town with Frank while little Vanessa lived on the family farm south of Plentywood and was cared for by relatives.

During the school years in Plentywood, Jim was active in various sports and spent time with his grandparents on the farm. Upon high school graduation in 1943, Jim entered the war effort by enrolling in the drafting program at Montana State University in Bozeman. He went directly from there to Seattle where he began employment with the Boeing Aircraft Company before his eighteenth birthday. He was a draftsman in the engineering department where he worked for the next five years. He made lifelong friends during that time living with several others from the same department in a large boarding house above Lake Union.

After the war years he returned to Plentywood and worked at a variety of jobs. He then purchased farmland west of Froid and worked with his uncle who owned and operated the local saloon. He became a partner in the business and eventually its sole owner.

It was in Froid that he met his future wife, Lois. They married on December 17, 1948. Together they ran the Mint Bar and Café and raised their six children. They were both community minded and both very active in their children’s activities. Those were busy years for Jim. He also served on the city council, being involved in city development projects like Fjeseth Field, a lighted football/baseball field for Froid, ongoing sewer and water upgrades, and street paving projects. He was active in the local baseball program which in time extended to the MonDak region. The Mint became a great place for community gatherings such as wild game feeds, family and school reunions, and town celebrations.

Upon his retirement, Jim and Lois found more time to travel and had the opportunity to attend many of their grandchildren’s activities and sporting events. Jim’s lifelong love of community and sports has definitely been passed on to the generations that follow. In keeping with Jim’s love of community and all things Irish, his ashes will be interred in the South Cemetery at Froid, with some travelling to Ireland to be spread amongst the clover.

Jim is preceded in death by his wife, Lois; his siblings and their spouses: brothers Fran (Betty), Gene (Lael), and Jerry (Inge), and sister Vanessa (Vern) Strand; brothers-in-law Merton and Robert Purvis, Jr.; and son-in-law Philip Petrik.

Jim carries on in his six children Mike (Cindy), Steve (Holly), Joe, Patty Petrik, Jerry (Sherie), and Denise (Carl) Benson; 13 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.

Memorial Contribution