James (Jim) Robert Montgomery of Maple Creek passed away July 18, 2010 at Regina General Hospital at the age of 62. Jim was born Sept. 22, 1947 in Maple Creek. He grew up on the family farm and feedlot north of Golden Prairie and graduated from Golden Prairie High School in 1965. The family moved to their current location north of Maple Creek in 1966, where he has lived and worked ever since.

Jim loved most all sports, with rodeo being number one. In the late ’60s, Jim and Dale began team roping competitively and instructed many team roping clinics. He was always ready to help and encouraged many young rodeo enthusiasts as they started out.

Over the years Jim won several championships and year-end awards. He took Dale to the 1973 Canadian Team Roping Association Championship; he won the CCA Team Roping Championship in 1974, ‘75, ‘77, and ‘78; the Chinook Rodeo Association Team Roping Championship in ‘77; his horse Jeep won the CCA’s Heeling Horse of the Year in ‘83 and ’84. Jim was CCA Gold Card Member #393 and was also awarded the CCA Rodeo Volunteer of the Year in 2001.   He joined the Canadian Senior Pro Rodeo Association in 1990 and in 1998 he partnered with Bill Reeder to win the 50’s Team Roping Championship, then in 2007 he teamed with Arnie Johnson and won the Frank Sisson Silver Dollar Casino Tour for high point in their event. He won the National Senior Pro Team Roping Championship for his age group in the Rocky Mountain Circuit in 2008.

Jim loved to play pool. He played with the ‘Commercial Critters’ in the Maple Creek 8-Ball Pool League where he won a Sportsman Award and several team championships.

One of his biggest accomplishments was participating in the 2010 Battle of the Little Big Puck (Cowboys vs. Indians) Fund Raiser hockey game held annually in Maple Creek. After major surgery last fall, it became a goal of his to take part in this year’s event. This gave him the honour of playing in every game since its inception (1978) as well as being the oldest player on the ice.

In the words of one of his good friends, “Everyone who knew Jim knew where he stood. He was not complicated, he did not ask for much, liked to socialize, watch and participate in activities close to his heart and most of all keep in touch with the lives of those he loved.”

Jim is survived by his daughter Jocelyn Montgomery; his brother Dale (Dawn) Montgomery; his sisters Linda (Bill) Anderson and Kim (Dave) Gavelin; his nephews and niece, Cole and Wade Anderson, Chayce, Craig, Erin and Kade Gavelin, great nephew Liam and his dad Ken Evans. He was predeceased by his parents Allan and Freda Montgomery and his niece Jessica Evans. Funeral services for Jim were held July 22 in the Maple Creek Armories. Joe Braniff was Master of Ceremonies, Shawna Burton gave the eulogy and Jim’s cousin Penny Timms sang ‘The Old Rugged Cross’. Urn bearer was his daughter Jocelyn. Honorary pallbearers were his nieces and nephews, Cole and Wade, Chayce, Craig, Erin and Kade, Liam and +Jessica.

Jim’s family would like to thank his ‘second family’ - the CSPRA organization, his fellow competitors, travelling and roping partners plus the friends he gathered over the years for the calls, cards and kind words of remembrance. Even though he had to medical out of the July rodeos, he had definite plans of being a threat at Thorsby! That was not to be, but we are proud of his dedication and determination. Jim loved rodeo, he loved competition and he loved to rope! Thank You All for being part of the things he loved.

LETTER FROM THE CSPRA PRESIDENT
Hello Everyone
I hope everybody had a good Holiday Season and enjoying the beginnings of a wonderful 2010.  We are anticipating a great rodeo year with some exciting things happening. This is the 25th Anniversary of the CSPRA and we are looking at different ways to celebrate this and make it a special one to remember. One of the things we are working on is season leader saddles in all the events. So far we have saddles committed for the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s Ladies Barrel Race, 40’s Team Roping and 50’s Team Roping. If anyone would like to sponsor one of these saddles or any other award please contact myself or the office.  We also hope to have more added money at the finals. This decision will be made by the start of the rodeo season, We are looking for volunteer help at the finals, anyone interested in putting on a rodeo or helping out at  any level please call the office.  Good luck to you all as we begin our 25th year at Rodeo and to those members travelling to the NSPRA Rodeos in Arizona.
Chuck Melin,
CSPRA President