Walter James (Jim) Garmoe Obituary (1928

On August 9th, 2024, our hero, Walter James (Jim) Garmoe, passed away in South Jordan, Utah surrounded by family, due to complications of a recent surgery and dementia. He was a remarkable example of a true family man and has now been reunited with his wife, Susan, and his special son Jimmy. Jim was born on December 6, 1928, in Glendive, Montana, to Robert (Rasmus) Henning and Jennie (Boe) Garmoe. His parents immigrated from Norway and settled in Eastern Montana. He was the youngest of 4 children raised by his widowed mother. After his father passed away, he helped support the family by delivering newspapers and then at age 14 went to work on the railroad construction crew. Despite family hardship, he graduated early from Dawson County High School and enrolled in college. He received a B.A. in Geology from the University of Montana and later a M.S. in Geology from the University of Minnesota. Jim had an extraordinary career as a metals and minerals geologist. He began his career in Butte, Montana as a geologist for Anaconda Copper Company. His career with Anaconda took him to the Silver King Mine in Park City, Utah, and he eventually worked throughout the Western Hemisphere from Alaska to Chile. Later, he worked for Atlantic Richfield (ARCO) Company after they acquired Anaconda. During his 35-year career as a geologist and executive he was instrumental in bringing various mining properties from exportation, to development, to production. After retiring from the corporate world, he established his own successful Geological Consulting Firm and continued to share his geological expertise for another 15 years. Jim loved geology, and most enjoyed spending time doing exploration and in the mines. The Anaconda Geological Group became like family and he treasured his lifelong friendships. While living and working in Park City, Jim met his future wife Susan Stubbs (Sue), and his best friend, Bob Caldwell. An avid skier, Jim met Sue and her best friend, Merle, on the ski slopes. The love story goes like this, best friends dated best friends, and then best friends married best friends. Jim and Sue were married on September 23, 1961 in Reno, Nevada with Bob and Merle by their side. Jim and Sue were later blessed with two children, Terri Lyn and James Henning (Jimmy). Although Jimmy suffered an anoxic brain injury at birth leaving him severely disabled, the couple decided to care for him at home. Jim and Sue had a strong and mutually supportive marriage and worked together to overcome the challenges that life presented them. Jim was a loving and devoted husband and father. Even with his busy career, Jim helped care for Jimmy, and was always Terri’s biggest supporter. Throughout his life he enjoyed spending time outdoors fishing, hunting, skiing, and golfing. But, most of all he enjoyed spending time with family. Over the years, the family relocated several times with Jim’s career but the Salt Lake area was their home base and where Jim and Sue retired. Jim and Sue spent their golden years traveling, golfing, and enjoying their grandchildren. He loved his grandsons, Carson and Cody, more than they will ever know. They brought him great joy and he thoroughly enjoyed being involved in their activities. With both his children and grandchildren, Jim was always there in a moment’s notice to comfort, listen, advise, or assist. His first consideration was always his family. He always made sure his family was taken care of and unselfishly put others before himself. In addition, Jim was a “handyman” that could find a way to build or fix most anything. He was extremely intelligent, and well-read but still down to earth and remembered his humble beginnings. Jim was a true gentleman: kind, mannerly, considerate and always willing to help someone. He was the definition of honest, responsible, and dependable. Jim was independent to a fault and never wanted to inconvenience anyone. Jim was generous and charitable but very modest and did not want to be in the spotlight. He gave so much and asked for nothing in return and that gave him joy. Jim is survived by his daughter Terri Butler, his two cherished grandsons, Carson and Cody Butler, and many dear nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Susan, his special son Jimmy, his sisters, Bobby (Pike) Presthus & Tootse (Norman) Lunde, and his brother Robert Garmoe. The family would like to thank the staff at Beehive Home in South Jordan and A+ Hospice for their assistance in caring for Jim. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to The Dementia Society of America at www.dementiasociety.org. Graveside services will be held at 12:00 noon, Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at the Provo City Cemetery, 610 South State Street, Provo, Utah. The family will receive friends at the Berg Mortuary of Provo, 185 East Center Street, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. prior to services at the cemetery. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.bergmortuary.com.