Jim Henderson
Jim Henderson is living proof that living by the Golden Rule is a wise adage. Born in Sykeston, ND in 1923, Jim attended a country grade school and graduated from Jamestown High School. It was in Jamestown that he met and married the love of his life, Eva. They were married in November of 1943, but only enjoyed four months together before he received orders to serve in the military. The couple was living in Eagle Butte, SD where Jim managed the elevator. They packed up their belongings and Eva moved back to Jamestown to live with her parents while he was in the army infantry. The newlyweds didn't see each other for nearly two years.
An Inspiration to Us All
When asked about his time in the service, which included one and one-half years in Germany, Jim replies, "That whole experience was worth a million dollars but I wouldn't give you a nickel for a second chance!"
Military tours back then were very different from today's in that families had no idea where their loved ones were. Jim says "The saying back then was 'loose lips sink ships', now they have on TV where a guy is at." The only communication the couple was able to maintain were postcards and letters, but because Jim was on the move so much, he often had stacks of letters-as many as 54 one time-waiting for him when the mail finally caught up with him.
Just shy of two full years, Jim returned home to Eva and they restarted what would be a great 63-year marriage. The couple took up golf, played cards and never missed a Saturday night at the Elks club. "I knew lots of guys who worked all week and then wanted to hang out with the boys, but Eva and I did everything together," remembers Jim.
"That whole experience was worth a million dollars but I wouldn't give you a nickel for a second chance!"
Jim began another elevator manager position. He and Eva lived in Jim's childhood home for nearly eight years before taking a manager role at the Farmer’s Elevator in Morgan, MN. While there, Jim was courted for a position with Cargill. He accepted and the couple relocated to Fargo. After 25 years with Cargill, Jim and Eva looked forward to an early retirement. This plan was put on hold for a couple more years as Jim was recruited by a couple young guys starting AgriMark.
When retirement finally did arrive, Jim and Eva enjoyed month-long stays in McAllen, TX where they spent many memorable hours together on the golf course. A firm believer that everyone should give something back to society, Jim started what would become a 22-year volunteer relationship with the food pantry. He also dedicated some of his time to the local Kiwanis club and was a self-proclaimed "table cleaner upper" at many of the infamous pancake feeds.
When Eva was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 1991, Jim cared for her at home for nearly a decade. Then one day in their living room, Eva announced that she wanted him to take her to Bethany. Jim remained at home for a short time before selling their home and moving into Bethany himself. "It’s home to me. It's probably the best move I ever made; all I had to do was walk down the hall to see Eva. The food pantry got my mornings and I watched sports in the evenings, but every one of my afternoons was Eva's," says Jim.
Jim has received many honors in his rich life, including participating in the Honors Flight for veterans and earning the Cargill volunteer of the year award. One of Jim's prize possessions is a plaque he received from all the nurses that took care of Eva before her passing. It states "We just wanted to tell you that you and Eva are special people in our lives. You were an inspiration to us all."
Now that's a legacy to be proud of and something each and every one of us should strive for in our own lives. We’re honored to know you Jim.