Jim McElhaney 

Stevensville –  Jim made his way to the garden gate on December 8, 2025. Jim McElhaney was born on November 10, 1940 at Saint John’s Hospital in Helena, Montana. After graduating from high school, Jim met and married Esther and they moved to Las Vegas where Jim began driving trucks.  Jim and Esther had two Children: his son Michael was born in 1966, his daughter Joey was born in 1969; Esther had a son from a previous marriage, Richard who was born in 1961.  In 1975, Jim and Esther divorced and he eventually moved to Fountain Valley, California and then on to Oregon.  In 1994, while Jim was working at Mallorie’s Dairy in Oregon, he found the love of his life, Christina.  Jim and Christina returned to Las Vegas, where they got married and he went to work with Las Vegas Paving.  While in Las Vegas he would make lots of memories with his Las Vegas Paving friends and would eventually retire and move back to Stevensville, Montana.  In retirement, he had ample time in the latter part of his life for his family and friends, and to pursue projects and travel. He had cattle for a short time, a beautiful garden and a workshop that kept him busy. 

All through his life, Jim deeply invested in relationships with friends and family. He always took the time to get to know people; if he knew you, he knew you well. He was old-fashioned, carrying a handkerchief and toothpicks, and didn’t much care for technology, only using his phone to talk, not to text, take pictures or navigate. His TV was always tuned to Classic Country music and Gun Smoke.  He valued quality time and kept up with many friends, always making time for coffee with his truck driving buddies and weekly outings to CJ’s Den for Sunday breakfast. He loved a good adventure, story, prank or joke and had an uproarious, genuine laugh. Jim and Christina shared many travels across the United States, visiting friends and family, enjoying unique experiences and beautiful sights. Jim’s life was filled with adventure, joy, laughter and so much love.

Jim is survived by his daughter Joey and Robert Phillips (husband), their children Hailey, Kyle, Austin, Amaya, and Koa; their grandkids, Kayden, Zoey, Noah, Maddox, Quinn, and Brixton; Jim’s son Mike and his children, Trey, Tori and Tierryn, and his granddaughter Arielle. Jim is also survived by countless friends and neighbors, all of whom will miss his lighthearted, humorous personality and long visits. In fact, Jim purchased a beautiful bench for him and Christina at the Sunnyside Cemetery in Stevensville, Montana where friends and family can visit anytime, and he will be waiting there to catch up when you come to visit.  Bring your favorite beverage and share a story with him, he’d love to hear all about it. A memorial service will be held on Friday June 12, 2026 at Three Mile Community Center, 4433 Sunnyside Cemetery Rd., Stevensville, Montana at 12:00pm. There will be a graveside service following the memorial at Sunnyside Cemetery, 1013 Three Mile Creek Rd., Stevensville. Finally, there will be a reception after the graveside at CJ’s Den, 324 Main St., Stevensville. If you wish to express sympathy, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in his memory, or simply perform an act of kindness in his honor.