Obituary: James Bonderud

James Bonderud

James M. Bonderud, 70, of Beulah, N.D., passed away on Sunday, December 18, 2022, at the Knife River Care Center, Beulah. A celebration of Life service will be held at a later date.

James Michael Bonderud was born on January 2, 1952, at the Jamestown hospital, the son of Sidney and Olive (Terry) Bonderud of Carrington. Jim spent his first 18 years growing up in Carrington where he was active in sports and developed a great love of the outdoors. He spent a lot of time hunting and fishing with his dad and numerous friends.

In July of 1967, he met a young lady at the New Rockford drive-in who, unknown to him at the time, would become his wife and soulmate in the future. In fact on a date in New Rockford in the summer of 1969, they pulled into a Standard Oil gas station and he received a scratch off card and won a new 1969 Camaro SS/RS.

Jim graduated with the class of 1970 and went to the North Dakota State School of Science where he enrolled in the auto body class and graduated in 1972.

Jim and Diane (Buffy) Gedrose of New Rockford were married on September 3, 1971, and after graduating, they moved to Beulah. Jim took an autobody job with Liebelt Chevrolet where he worked for nine months and then started for Spiers Ford in Beulah where he ran the autobody shop. Their daughter Penny was born in 1972 and their son, Michael James was born in 1985.

In February of 1974, Jim went to work for Montana Dakota Utilities and the Beulah Power Plant and was there until the spring of 1980. He then transferred to the new Coyote Power Plant being constructed south of Beulah. He spent the rest of his career there retiring as the operations supervisor in 2013, after 39 years in the power generation business.

In 1985, Jim helped start a local Pheasants Forever Chapter which he remained a very active member. In 2009, he received the Pheasants Forever MVP award at the state meeting. Jim was an avid hunter and fisherman his whole life with his wife Diane better known as "Buffy", his fishing partner.

He is survived by his wife, Diane "Buffy" of Beulah; children, Penny (Dave) Schilling and Mike Bonderud and grandchildren, Tate and Tyson, all of Mendota Heights, Minn., and one sister, Annette (Tom) Tandanski, Maddock, N.D.

Arrangements conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen.