James Bernard Korst

James “Jim” Bernard Korst, 77, of Great Falls, Montana, ended his long arduous battle with a rare form of cancer on January 16, 2022. Jim was born May 8, 1944, in Conrad, Montana. Jim’s greatest joy was found in making his family smile. Coming in a close second was spending time hunting and fishing. While Jim’s children were in school, he travelled across Montana and beyond attending nearly every football, basketball, baseball, and softball game, not to mention the occasional play or concert. Jim enjoyed cooking, often making enough to feed an army. Growing up, Jim attended Catholic schools and worked at the Anaconda clubhouse setting bowling pins. Once he turned 18, Jim went to work at the Anaconda Copper Mining Company smelter until the plant closed in 1981. In 1982, Jim started work as a serviceman with the Great Falls Transit. Within a few years he was a mechanic and finished his career as the maintenance supervisor. One dance at the J-Bar-T turned into a 50-year friendship with the woman he loved, Karen. Jim and Karen began their 48-year marriage on August 25, 1973. Jim cared dearly for Karen; whether it was a road trip across the state or just down the stairs to do laundry, every trip began with a “don’t speed and don’t crash” or a “be careful and don’t fall.” Karen and Jim planted roots in Great Falls where their pride and joy, Tom and Pam, were born and raised. Jim’s all-time greatest pleasure came from watching his children succeed in life and go on to have incredible families of their own. Jim is survived by his wife, Karen (Burditt) Korst; son, Thomas Korst, his children, Carter and Aubrey; daughter, Pamela (John) Janusz, their children, Jacob, Jeffrey, Ethan, Chase and Emma; sister, Frances (Bob) Olson; brothers, Leroy Korst, William (Trisha) Korst, and David (Jennifer) Korst; and numerous nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Sylvester and Harriet (Zuidema) Korst, and brother, Thomas Korst. “I’ll be looking at the moon, but I’ll be seeing you!” At Jim’s request there will be no service. Karen kindly requests, no flowers, plants, or food.