James Russell Doeden

Jim Doeden, Fountain Hills, died on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 in Scottsdale. He was 86 years old. James Russell Doeden was born in Hillsboro ND on Nov. 21, 1938 to Lawrence “Buster” and Eleanor Doeden. He grew up on the Doeden farm near Caledonia ND, and attended school at Caledonia and Hillsboro, graduating from Hillsboro High School in 1956. Jim was a talented athlete, excelling in basketball and baseball. He once scored 56 points in a basketball game for the Caledonia Tigers, and had an astounding batting average of .636 while helping the Hillsboro Burros make it to the state tournament in baseball. He even tried football for the first time as a senior at Hillsboro, learning how to block and tackle by watching the experienced player who lined up next to him. Jim found his true athletic passion in the game of golf, competing in and winning tournaments throughout the Red River Valley and becoming the patriarch of the Doeden golf family that has produced talented high school, college and even professional golfers. Jim continued to play until last year, when his scores were often lower than his age. Jim also had a passion for music (mostly country), and was well known in the Fountain Hills area for entertaining audiences. For the past several years he delighted fans on Thursday nights at Phil’s Filling Station, and also performed under the VFW Beer Tent at the town’s Festival of Fine Arts & Crafts held in November and February. He proudly called himself “The North Dakota Cowboy.” Jim was a very successful businessman. At the age of 19 he started F-M Plastering Company in Fargo ND and Moorhead MN, and later built hundreds of homes and twin homes in the F-M area. He owned a number of condominiums in Fountain Hills and Fargo-Moorhead. Jim married Juneal Wollertson in Shelly MN in 1957, and they raised two sons, Larry and Joseph. They later divorced. Jim married Linda Thiel in 1992. They later divorced. Jim is survived by sons Larry (Marilyn) Doeden of Fargo ND and Joseph (Patti) Doeden of Verndale MN; grandchildren Lance (Mikayla) Doeden of Rapid City SD, Lee Doeden of Hugo MN, Logan (Taryn) Doeden of Moorhead MN, Joshua Doeden of Hickson ND, and Breanne (Brandon) Kostrzrewski of Hickson ND; and eight great-grandchildren. He also is survived by his brothers, Don Doeden of Moorhead MN, John Doeden of Battle Lake MN, and Dennis (Sue) Doeden of Bemidji MN; and special friend Jean Guite of Fountain Hills. Jim Doeden was proud to celebrate 41 years of sobriety in January 2025. Over the years, he helped hundreds of people deal with addiction, sharing his story with humility and grace. All those who were touched by this special man are invited to share memories at a Celebration of Life at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 16 at Desert Canyon Golf Club.