James William Berry, 95
Dec. 8, 1928 – Aug. 24, 2024
James William Berry was born in Sandpoint, Idaho, on Dec. 8, 1928. He was the son of James Robert Berry and Catherine Lutzke.
Jim grew up in Sandpoint and spent nearly his entire life there. In his youth, he worked on the family farm.
At the age of 9, he began his business career by gathering reject shingles from the local mill and selling them from his wagon to the area residents as kindling. By the time he was 12, he had a booming newspaper delivery business, where he was awarded numerous prizes. They included trips to Victoria, British Columbia, college football games and two rodeos, one in Pendleton, Ore., and the other in Ellensburg, Wash.
During this same time, we had entered into World War II. As part of the war effort, there was a drive and contest to recycle old tires, tin foil, and various other items. Jim was the top prize winner for his efforts and was awarded a $50 war bond and a new bicycle.
When Jim was 14 and 15, during summer vacations, he worked for the Forest Service near Priest Lake, doing “Blister Rust Control” and also as a firefighter. After his sophomore year in high school, he moved to Seattle and worked for Boeing, building bombers.
After the war ended, he returned to school in Sandpoint. The next summer, he worked as a “Pond Monkey” for a sawmill in Murray, Idaho.
At the age of 18, Jim married Joyce Nilsby, and they, with friends, went to work at Hanford for a brief time. They returned to Sandpoint, and he went to work for his father-in-law, Victor Nilsby, in the sheet metal and furnace business. In the early 1950s, he purchased the business and operated it for about ten years.
During this time, he became a charter member of the Sandpoint Lions Club and served in many positions, including president. He was one of the organizers of the Fourth of July celebration sponsored by the Lions, and also the planning and building of the Sandpoint Public Beach Park.
At the age of 30, after selling his business, he went to work as a furnace mechanic at Larson AFB near Moses Lake. A year later, he formed a partnership with Dan and Teresa Deshon, and began contracting with the Air Force doing housing maintenance on military bases. They grew the business to become the largest of its kind in the U.S. One of his most memorable projects was his job at Patrick Air Force Base in the 1960s. Patrick was the support base for the Kennedy Space Center, and their mission to land a man on the moon.
In 1983, Jim discontinued the contracting business and began the construction of a gold course on property that he had purchased from the McGhee family. This property had been the first home of his grandparents, William Allen and Ollie Berry, who had settled there in 1917.
After selling the golf course Jim remained active in many business developments in and around North Idaho. They included the Bonner Mall, the Floating Restaurant at Hope, land developments in Bonners Ferry, and several others.
In his later years, he enjoyed gardening, watching sports on TV, and remained active in new business pursuits.
Jim is survived by two sons, William A. Berry (wife Jan), and James R. Berry; and two daughters, Sandra L. Ebbett (husband Dave), and Debra A. Vaughan (husband Ron). He had five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his two parents, James and Catherine; his sister, Dorothy; his brother, Ronnie; and his wife, Joyce L. Berry, who he was married to for 68 years before her passing.
Out of respect for his wishes, there will be no service. Those who wish to honor his memory can make a donation to the Sandpoint Lions Club or to Bonner General Health Community Hospice.
Family and Friends are invited to sign his online guest book at coffeltfuneral.com
Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.