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(June 18, 1940 - August 24, 2015)
James D. “Jim” Vogt passed away peacefully on August 24, 2015, surrounded by his loving family at the Billings Clinic Hospital due to complications following open heart surgery.
Jim was born in Watertown, S.D. on June 18, 1940, the son of William (Bill) and Hattie Vogt. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1958 and excelled in track and football, with his favorite coach being John DeWitt.
Jim began attending Northern State Teachers College (Aberdeen, S.D.) in 1958. He graduated from Northern in 1962, earning All-American Honors in football while finishing 2nd in the nation in NAIA scoring. He was also inducted into Northern’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
On November 24, 1960, Jim and Judith (Judy) Hagen were joined in marriage in Roslyn, South Dakota.
They have one son, Jeff, and three daughters, Tammy, Sharon and Sharlene. Jim served as Bookstore Manager at Northern from 1962-1967 while they were also dorm parents to 160 boys for two years. While employed at Northern, he learned of an amazing new building on the campus of Northwest Community College in Powell, Wyoming. After a visit and interview in 1967, he was hired by SinClair Orendorff as the first Director and Bookstore Manager of the Northwest Student Center. During his employment he also served as advisor to the Student Senate and was a part-time math teacher and assistant track coach. He retired in 1997 after 30 years of service to the college he loved. He continued to be a supporter of the college, serving 11 years on the Board of Trustees. He also served on the Wyoming Community College Board of Trustees and was chosen Wyoming Trustee of the year in 2010. Jim was an advocate for all college employees — from the custodians and secretaries to the faculty and administration.
Jim was an avid sports fan and proud supporter of all Northwest College athletic teams and had a favorite spot in the Trapper gym to watch their games. He was especially proud of his vote to bring the sport of soccer to Northwest and the resulting beautiful soccer field. He and Judy also established a Trapper scholarship fund to be used for women’s athletics.
Jim was a member of Hope Lutheran Church and served on many boards, including the Montana-Wyoming Synod Council. His faith in Christ was quiet, but sincere. He loved his family and friends, his children and his grandkids. His greatest joys were spending time with them, and went to all of their activities whenever possible. In his retirement, besides his involvement as a Northwest College Trustee, he enjoyed biking around town and the countryside and solving the problems of the world with his McDonald’s buddies every morning.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Hattie Vogt, sister Darlene, and brothers Don and Herb. Surviving him is his wife, Judy; brother Bill (Jean) Vogt of Kalispell, MT, sister-in-law Janet Vogt of Alfred, ME; son Jeff (Jeanne) of Juneau, AK;, daughters Tammy (Steve) Rockhold of Arvada, CO, Sharon (Mark) MacMillan of Helena, MT and Sharlene (Steve) Baumer of Littleton, CO; grandchildren Nick (Melissa), Vince and Frankie Vogt, Emily and Leesa Rockhold, Lexi and Nikki MacMillan, Chad, Mitch and Danan Baumer; and step-grandchildren Terra Rockhold, Brittany Lee and Michan Gallagher.
He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Lilly and Xander Vogt, step great-grandchildren Auston and Sophia Schellig and Cayla and Ayden Lee, and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Northwest College Foundation for the Jim and Judy Vogt Women’s Athletic Scholarship Fund or charity of your choice would be appreciated.
Visitation will be at Thompson Funeral Home, on Thursday, September 3, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Services will be held at the Yellowstone Building on the campus of Northwest College, Powell, Wyoming, on Friday, September 4, at 10 a.m., with reception to follow.
Interment will be at Crown Hill Cemetery following the reception. You are requested to wear your Trapper colors! Thompson Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.
