James Lee Taggart
James Lee Taggart, of Newfolden, MN, passed away peacefully at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND, on December 3, 2023, with his loving wife at his side, after a day spent with his children and grandchildren.
Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:30 PM on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Newfolden, MN, with Shawn Wagner officiating. Burial will follow at Bethlehem of New Solum Cemetery, rural Newfolden. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a 6:30 PM Prayer Service on Friday, December 8, 2023 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Newfolden, MN. Visitation will also take place one hour prior to the funeral service on Saturday at the church.
Jim was born on June 4th, 1947 to Lester and Elvira (Hallin) Taggart. He was one of nine siblings. He grew up in Thief River Falls, MN. He attended Knox Elementary and Lincoln High School. At nineteen years old he served in the Vietnam War for the United States Army from 1968-1970.
Jim married Marlene (Ueland) Iverson on April 12th, 1969 while he was still serving in the military. They lived in Minneapolis, then Thief River Falls. In 1972, they moved to their forever home in Newfolden, MN. To this union, three children were born: Troy, Melissa, and Jennifer.
Jim worked as a foreman at US Satellite systems then Arctic Cat in the fiberglass department until his snowmobile accident on Christmas Day in 1994. Then he began driving truck for his son’s construction company, which he did until he retired in 2019.
Jim loved horses, competing in horse shows with his children, muscle cars, being his sons snowmobile racing mechanic, watching NASCAR, boating and lake life, and his favorite thing was spending time with his family.
He is survived by his wife, Marlene of 54 years; his son, Troy Taggart (Lisa Robson) of Newfolden, MN; his daughters, Melissa (David) Vigen of Thief River Falls, MN and Jennifer Tillett of Thief River Falls, MN; grandchildren Brenden and Kailee Vigen, Colin Taggart, and Keaton and Bentley Tillett; sisters Ivy (Bob) Myhrer of Lakeland, Florida, Dorothy Johnson of Minneapolis, MN, Lois Larson of Cambridge, MN, Marilyn (James) Erickson of Alexandria, MN, and Fae (Gene) Becklund of Redwood Falls, MN; sister-in-law Sharon Taggart of Greenbush, MN; brothers-in-law Newell (Margaret) Ueland of Grand Forks, ND, Ron (Linda) Ueland of Newfolden, MN, and Bruce (Pat) Ueland of Duluth, MN, and several nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
He is preceded in death by parents Lester and Elvira Taggart; mother- in-law and father-in-law Norman and Bernice Ueland; brother Duane Taggart; sisters Dolly Gray and Carol (Peter) Teigen; and brothers-in -law Don Johnson and Adrian Larson.