James "Jim" Capp passed away on Friday September 2, 2016 at the Springs Assisted Living in Butte.
Jim was born on June 8, 1925 in Whitehall, MT to John and Clara (Delmoe) Capp. He was the tenth of twelve children.
In 1943, he graduated from Whitehall High School where he served as the senior class vice president.
On August 17, 1944, Jim entered the U.S. Army and fought in Italy during World War II. For his service, he was recognized with multiple decorations and citations. He was discharged August 19, 1949.
Jim married the former Hazel Palagi in St. Helena's Catholic Church in Meaderville on April 15, 1951. She passed away in 2009.
He and his brother Ray owned and operated the Nineteen Mile Inn for several years after his discharge from the service until 1956 when he moved to Butte and began working for Consolidated Freight Ways. He subsequently worked for Continental Concrete and retired in 1989 from School District No.1 as the operating engineer for the Greeley School.
Jim was perhaps one of the oldest bartenders in Butte. He was the "Friday Night Bartender" at Val's Alpine for over 40 years until ill health forced him to retire in 2011 at the age of 85.
He was elected the "Strawberry King" at Marquis Assisted Living in 2014 and he and his sister Louise traveled to Washington D.C. that year in the Journey of Heroes to visit the World War II Memorial.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Hazel and beloved children Barbara Mahugh and Thomas J. Capp. Also preceding him were brothers and sisters, Angela (Ted) Crossman, Margaret (Tom) Fellows, Anne (Gale) Zimmerman, John (Lena) Capp, Peter (Marion) Capp, Vincent Capp, George, Capp, and Dorothy (Edward) Brooke.
He is survived by his son Jim (Jo Anne) of Great Falls and their children Paul of Missoula and Holly of St. Louis, daughter-in-law Karen and her children Adam, Logan and Laura of Washington State, granddaughter, Andrea Mahugh of Houston and Eric Mahugh of Butte. Also surviving are sisters Louise Martin and Joanne (Frank) Merrill, brother Ray (Patty) Capp and sister-in-laws Alice and Laura Capp.
Friends are asked to join the family on Saturday September 17 after 10 a.m. in St. Ann's Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Memorials are suggested to St. Ann's Catholic Church or the Butte Emergency Food Bank. Condolences may be addressed to his son, Jim Capp, 209 Dunn Court. Great Falls, Montana 59405