James M. Caves

James M. Caves, 79, an Army veteran and rancher, died of natural causes on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, at the Phillips County Hospital.
He was born June 17, 1930, in Malta, the son of Fern Ivo and Ida Mae (McEwen) Caves. He was raised in Malta and Saco. He graduated from Saco High School in 1949, and married Anne Marie Bogeholz on June 17, 1951 in Saco. He was inducted into the Army that year and served for two years, getting out in 1953. He returned to Saco to work on the family ranch until poor health forced him to retire.
Jim was on the Board of Directors for the First State Bank for many years. He also served on the boards of the Soil Conservation District, Phillips County Hospital and Saco Lutheran Church. He was an avid reader and a collector of local history. In his younger days he broke horses and loved the open spaces working with his cattle.
He was especially proud of his grandsons and they all looked up to him as their mentor. His legacy will be his quiet wisdom and his knowing smile.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Winifred Overby.
Survivors include his wife, Anne M. Caves, of Saco; four daughters, Vicke Schend and her husband, Terry, of Havre, Anita Freeman and her husband, Dwight, of Saco, Mardy Demarais and her husband, Lecil, of Malta, and Brenda Lammerding and her husband, Shane, of Saco; one brother, Richard Caves, and his wife, Caroline, of Saco; nine grandsons and one great-grandson.
A Remembrance Service was held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4, at the Kirkwood Funeral Home in Malta. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 5, at the Saco Lutheran Church. Interment was in the Grandview Cemetery with Military Honors.
Memorials may be made to the Phillips County Hospital Foundation or the Hi-Line Retirement Center. Condolences may be left for the family at www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com. Kirkwood Funeral Home of Malta is in charge of arrangements.