James R. Locke 72, of Troy

James “Jim” Ronald Locke passed away Feb. 10, 2012, in Libby, Mont. 

Jim was born in Spokane, Wash., on Sept.16, 1939, to Gertrude and Charles Locke. 

The family moved to Billings, Mont., where Charles was stationed with Northwest Airlines during the war, and that is where Jim’s little sister, Mary Ann, was born in 1943.  The family eventually settled in Seattle, Wash.

Jim graduated from David Douglas High School, where he competed as a long-distance runner, and could run a mile under four minutes.

He served as a medic in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1964 and was stationed in Berlin when the wall was constructed.  He earned his bachelor of science in zoology from the University of Washington and graduated from the Medex program in 1972.  

He also enjoyed playing the piano and particularly loved the The Bumble Bee Boogie. 

Jim met Karen Kusner at a St. Patrick’s Day party in Seattle while he attended Seattle University and worked as a scrub tech at Doctor’s and Swedish Hospitals, and she worked at Sea Tac  for Western Airlines. 

They married in 1965 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Troy, and started their family in Seattle shortly thereafter. 

Jim worked for several years in the emergency room at Providence Hospital. 

In 1972, Karen, Jim and kids, Kirsten, Kate, Billy, and Katchen moved to Eureka, Mont., where he looked forward to working as a physician’s assistant for Doctor Forrest Schroeder.  

Daughter, Killian, and son, Joseph Ace, soon joined the family.  Jim practiced medicine in Eureka for 14 years, where he delivered babies; stitched up brawlers; mended broken bones for the town’s athletes and workers; and served on the ambulance and fire crew and City Council. 

He was well-loved by his patients for his funny bed-side manner.  In 1986, the family moved to the Kusner house in Troy, where Jim worked at the Asarco mine and really enjoyed being a member of the mine rescue team. 

Jim spent the last 15 years running the Libby Liquor Store with Karen.

Jim loved history, boxing, and the New York Yankees. He spent many happy years playing with his seven grandkids, and driving his boat around Savage Lake. 

He had little patience for ignorance but great empathy for those down on their luck.  Karen especially appreciated his wit and kindness to everyone.  Jim will be missed by everyone who was fortunate enough to know him. 

He is survived by his wife, Karen Locke, of Troy; children Kirsten Locke of Superior, Kate Locke of Bozeman, Katchen Locke of Brooklyn, N.Y., Killian and Fred Potter of Bozeman, Joseph Ace Locke of Missoula; grandkids Mary Grace, John, Zane, Jace, Ann, Natalie and Abbey; sister Mary Ann Helland of Kent, Wash.; nieces Shannon Bowman of Simi Valley, Calif., Anna Simon of Maple Valley, Wash., Shelly McDonald of Milton, Wash.; nephew Christopher Helland of Simi Valley, Calif.; half-brothers Larry Locke, Roy Locke, Martin Locke, David Locke; and half-sisters Karen Jones and Susy Reynolds. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, his half-sister Lisa Locke, and his beloved son, William Kusner Locke.

Services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libby.  Visitation will be 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, at Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby, and from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday.