James "Jim" E. Beskow

James “Jim” Eugene Beskow, 85, of Watertown, South Dakota, passed away on July 2, 2025, at Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown.

Jim was born on January 14, 1940, in Watertown, SD, and lived his entire life on the family farm located north of Watertown, South Dakota, near Rauville, Waverly, and South Shore communities. His love for farming and animals ran deep and people often joked that he was an “animal whisperer.” Whether it was his dogs, cats, or even a monkey that unexpectedly showed up on his farm, Jim had a unique bond with the animals around him. Even in his 80s, Jim was crawling on his hands and knees playing hide-and-seek with his son’s German Shepherd—proof that his love for animals and life never faded. His most famous encounter was with a spider monkey that he managed to catch by hand and return to the Bramble Park Zoo animal trainer, a moment that earned him a feature in the Watertown Public Opinion.

Jim grew up in rural Watertown, South Dakota and attended 1st to 8th grade at Rauville District #5. He attended high school in Watertown, graduating from Watertown Senior High School in 1958. Jim married Mavis (Rohrbach) Beskow on June 1, 1969.

 After living in an apartment for a few months with his new wife, Mavis, Jim decided life on the farm was where he belonged. Late-night calls about cattle escaping convinced him it was time for him and Mavis to move to the farm. Together they built a life there and were blessed with four children: Mark, Marty, Jamie, and Jared.

Jim was a member of St. Martin's Lutheran Church and deeply involved in his community, serving on committees for St. John’s Lutheran Church of Rauville, Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Watertown, Sioux Valley Co-Op Credit Union, AAL, Farm Service Agency and Germantown Township. Jim and Mavis also volunteered for Meals on Wheels. His commitment to his faith and community was unwavering, and he took pride in helping others.

One of Jim’s greatest joys was his 1961 Pontiac Catalina, which he purchased in 1963 and later restored. He was often seen at car shows, proudly displaying his prized possession and winning numerous trophies. He recently had his mother Lila’s 1982 Chevy Monte Carlo restored, and displayed it at local car shows. He also enjoyed driving his 1960s Oliver tractor in parades, which he purchased from his father-in-law, Edwin Rohrbach.

Jim’s sense of humor was a constant in his life. The last night he milked cows on October 31,1990, he wore a Halloween mask and coveralls to “trick” his friends/neighbors, a playful way of getting back the years he couldn’t go trick-or-treating with his family since he had to milk cows. Jim finally retired from farming in the Fall of 2024, but his passion for the land and animals remained with him throughout his life. Unsurprisingly, even just two days before his death, he wanted to mow his yard.

He is survived by his wife, Mavis; children: Mark Beskow of Burbank, CA; Martin Beskow (Claudia) of Naples, FL; Jamie Beskow of Nashville, TN; and Jared Beskow (JoLiz) of Sioux Falls, SD; as well as his grandchildren: Christopher Beskow, Joshua Beskow, Ellie Beskow, Thomas Beskow, and Claire Beskow.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents Emil and Lila (Kannas) Beskow of Watertown, SD; his sister Joann (Beskow) Roethler; and niece Nancy Roethler.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at St. Martin's Lutheran Church in Watertown, South Dakota. Rev. Paul Kuckhahn will officiate the service. Music will be provided by Dede Rosenthal as organist.

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Monday, July 7, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Tuesday.

Burial will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Martin's Lutheran Church or Great Plains Lutheran High School.

Jim will be dearly missed by all who knew him. His love of family, faith, farming, animals, and his signature sense of humor will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. His legacy of kindness, humor, and service to others will never be forgotten.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown and Hayti

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