Floyd "Jim" Ashcroft

-Floyd "Jim" Ashcroft, 84, passed away of natural causes at St. Patrick Hospital on Wed. March 9, 2016. Jim was born May 10, 1931 in Dixon, Montana (Revais Creek) to Floyd and Mabel (Telling) Ashcroft. He went to school in Dixon. In 1947, he left school and went to work for the Northern Pacific Railroad to help support the family. In 1950, he and his brother John enlisted in the Army. After basic training, they were shipped to Korea to join the many military people in the war there. Jim was in the 10th Combat Engineers, 3rd Division in Korea. He spent 14 months on the front lines. From Korea he was sent to Germany, there he was in the 1st Infantry Division, 18th Regiment. After three years of service he was-honorably discharged. He returned to Montana.

He worked in the woods for a while, and then went to work on the Eastern Pipeline. He later went to work as a truck driver on highway construction. Jim was working on the Noxon Dam when he was given the opportunity to go to work on heavy equipment. He became an operating engineer on scrapers and cats. He is a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, and worked all over the state of Montana for 39 years on road construction.

He had 3 boys, Jimmy, Dave, and Stanley from a previous marriage.

Jim met his true love and soul mate, Judy, in 1956. They were married in October of 1957. Their daughter was born in 1959, and nineteen months later, their twin boys, Jamey and Donnie were born.

Jim enjoyed fishing and hunting with his father-in-law, Dee. They seemed to have a mutual admiration society going. They spent many hours together, especially in the winter when Jim was "laid off" from his construction job. He also had fun with his kids, grandkids and great grandkids when they came along. The kids could pretty much wrap grandpa around their fingers and he enjoyed letting them do it. He injured his back in 1991and had to retire. To fill the time after he had to retire, he started collecting HO trains. In the basement of the house he had a whole train set up with all the accessories. He and the granddaughters spent many hours playing. He also got metal car kits of older cars and put them together.
He and Judy have been married 58 years. They had a happy and fun filled life together. They laughed a lot and had fun with whatever they decided to do.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, brother Warren, sisters; Pearl, Dolly, and Clara, and granddaughter Ashley.

He is survived by his wife, Judy, children Rhonda (Chuck), Jamey (Cindy), and Don (Valerie), Grandkids Kristen (Jason), Stephie (Levi) and Tanner, great grand kids, Ashley and Jordan, brother John, and numerous nieces and nephews. Cremation is under the care of Garden City Funeral Home & Crematory. Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com

Read Floyd Ashcroft's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.