• The funeral for James "Jim" Feist, 63, of Groton will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 6 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.  The Rev. Mike Kelly will officiate.  Burial will take place in Groton Union Cemetery at a later date. 
• Visitation will be held at the church on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m.
• He died after a battle against cancer on November 30, 2012 at his home, surrounded by his family.
• James was born on August 15, 1949 to John and Regina (Roehrich) Feist in Burnstad, North Dakota. He attended country school, where one of his teachers was his sister, Eva.  After

the death of his father, he moved with his family to Napoleon, ND.  He enlisted with the US Army and was deployed to Germany.  Following his discharge, he returned to North Dakota and was united in marriage with Linda Sandve in September of 1970.  Jim later married Peggy Thorson on April 16, 1980 in Foreman, ND.  Jim worked for Northern Pacific Railroad, as section foreman, in Ellendale, Rutland, Mooreton and Aberdeen.  He was with the railroad for 31 years before becoming disabled.  Jim was later employed seasonally with the City of Groton.
• Jim enjoyed gardening and fishing.  He also learned how to do canning and especially liked making pickles, for which he won blue ribbon at the fair.  Jim loved spending time with his children and grandchildren.  He had a vivid imagination that made him a great storyteller.  Jim also loved to play practical jokes on family and friends.
• Celebrating his life is his wife, Peggy and his children, Brian (Bridgette) Gaukler of Lidgerwood, ND; Cory Feist; Michael (Ashley) Feist; Daniel Feist, all of Groton; Willam Feist of Springfield; Renee (Brian) Forester of Carl Junction, MO; Tracy Feist of Conde and his 9 grandchildren.  Jim is also survived by his brothers, Pete (Rose) Feist of Bismarck, ND; Paul Feist of Oak Ridge, OR, his sisters, Eva Schulz of Bismarck, ND; Anne (Leo) Bosch of Menoken, ND; Helen Gustafson of Plymouth, MI and Mary DeCaro of Springfield, OR.
• Preceding him in death were his parents, his brothers: John, Frank, Joseph and Patrick, his sister, Irene Hagar, two infant sisters and one grandchild.
• Honorary Casketbearers will be Donald Koehler, Calvin Farmen, Arnold Bahr, Dale Fliehs and the Groton Volunteer Fire Dept.
• Casketbearers will be Ronald Feist, Robert Feist, Daniel Omeara, Eric Omeara, John Powell and Myron Schulz.