Lifelong Phillipsburg resident, Jim Burton, passed away on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. He was 77 years old.

James Dale Burton was the youngest child born to Dale and Jacquetta (Lee) Burton. He came into the world on January 20, 1945 on the family homestead north of Phillipsburg. As a child, Jim would rustle up shenanigans with his cousins Kenny Johnson and Ronnie Morrison.  Together they would hunt bad guys, fish in the creek, and stir up little boy mischief. Jim made sure to set aside time to bother his two older sisters, Virginia and Karan.

Jim attended Red Top School from 1st grade through 7th grade before attending school in town. While attending middle school and high school in town, he developed a knack for getting into bigger boy mischief. Those who knew him, knew that he was a large guy in a small frame. He was a troublemaker, a rebel rouser, and a ladies man. He liked to have fun, and wanted to make sure those around him were having fun too. He loved fast cars and rock n roll. He graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 1962.

In 1964, Jim married Paula Hance. They had three children, Chad, Lori and Summer. He worked at Royal Brand Roofing and Coop, and he helped on the family farm. What started as a temporary job turned into his lifelong occupation. Dale and Jim farmed together for many years until Dale's retirement. When Dale and Jackie moved to town, Jim took on sole operation of the farm and still thought of himself as the "temp."

Later, Jim married Cindy Griffin. Together, they continued to run the family business. They had two girls, Cassie and Chelsea. For almost forty years they were side by side working cattle, harvesting wheat, fixing fences or cutting (then spraying) musk thistle. Life wasn't always about work though. Jim loved to hunt, fish, water ski and play cards. Many nights were spent playing pitch and pinochle. Everyone knew when he was winning because he would laugh and joke, but when he was losing he yelled at the kids to "get your shoes on, we're going home." Weekends were spent at the lake where he taught numerous kids how to water ski, or he was trying to knock them off the inner tube behind the boat. He could slalom ski and made the biggest rooster waves when showing off.

Jim made friends everywhere he went. His family knew that it would take a while to leave any function because Jim had to talk to everyone before leaving. He spent many meal times at the Branding Iron or in Glade or Speed "table hopping" to speak with everyone around. Strangers in a park in Colorado, telemarketers and door to door salesmen could not resist the charm of Jim Burton.

Jim and Cindy hosted a foreign exchange student from France in 2004. Mathilde was so loved by them that they nicknamed her their "French daughter." They made a trip to France to visit Mathilde and her family in 2012. Jim fell in love with her family and the country instantly. He joked that he would move there, but Cindy didn't want to be so far away from her grandchildren.

Jim tended to "adopt" anyone who found a special place into his heart. Johan from South Africa, Mathilde from France, Dustin, Ricky, Patrick and Tony from Mississippi, and Pam and Brian Taylor were more than friends. They were his family. He was loved by many and loved many.

He is survived by his wife, Cindy, and daughters Lori Burton, Summer Burton, Cassie (Corey) Bohl, Chelsea (Brian) Bieghler, and Mathilde Chaumont, and grandchildren Justice and Julian Snyder, Jesse Cook, Riley, Ethan and Quinley Bohl, and Dawson, Jerome, Sawyer and Paityn Bieghler, and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Jacquetta, sisters, Virginia Harrison and Karan Godbout, son Chad Burton and granddaughter, Rein Opal Bieghler.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 28, 2022 at the United Methodist Church in Phillipsburg with Pastor Lew Van Der Wege officiating. The services will be streamed live on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.

Mr. Burton will lie in state from noon until 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel.  The family will receive friend Sunday evening from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Hospice Services, Inc.