Date : 18 Jul 2002
Location : Holy Cross Cemetery, Billings, MT
James Joseph Allen, 67, of Billings, formerly of Roundup, passed away July 15, 2002, at his home, 1005 O'Malley Drive in Billings, after a long illness of mesotheleoma cancer.
He was born north of Laurel on the Dibold family farm, Oct. 2, 1934, the son of Gilbert and Anna Dibold Allen. Jim was schooled in Laurel and Billings and received his GED while serving in the Navy. He worked various ranch jobs until he went into the Navy and served in the Korean War from 1952 to 1956.
James Allen married Donita Wons in Seattle on Nov. 21, 1953. They moved to Billings, raised a family of eight children, where he worked 29 years at the Conoco Refinery. They were later divorced in 1978. Jim retired from Conoco in 1985. Jim and Gladys Womeldorf operated the JXD Ranch from 1980 until present. He and Gladys were married in Billings on Nov. 24, 2001. He had also worked at the Roundup Vet Clinic for eight years.
Survivors include his wife Gladys; three sons Robert of Monroe, Wash., Joe (Ingrid) of Billings, Kelly (Gena) of Melstone; three daughters, Terry (Don) Bermes of Molt, Susan Lupo of Billings and Verna (Bryan) Glassing of Billings; three stepsons, Jack and John of Billings and Jay Womeldorf of Seattle; 30 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; five brothers, Gil (Betty), Pat (Grace), Ed, Tim, Art (Genevieve); four sisters, Shirley Smart, Helen (Leonard) Craig, Bonnie (Mike) Thomas and Mary (Steve) Schweitzer. Jim has been preceded in death by his parents; a precious daughter Annie; a son Donald; and a daughter-in-law, Debbie Anderson Allen.
James Allen always had a strong generous heart and he valued helping people.
Rosary will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, and Funeral Mass will be 10 am. Thursday, July 18, both at the Little Flower Catholic Church, 209 S. 35th St. Rite of committal to be at Holy Cross Cemetery.
At Jim's request, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the cancer research center at St. Vincent Hospital or to the Billings Food Bank.
"Say a prayer today for me, for where I lay, some day you'll be."
Arrangements are by Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Billings Gazette - Jul 17, 2002
