James Andrew Lovgren was born October 17, 1917 in Dewey Township of Walsh County, ND, the son of Andrew and Ida (Hogberg) Lovgren. He was raised on his parents farm near Derrick, ND. He attended school there and also Edmore, graduating Edmore High School in 1935. Jim married Helen A. Barry on July 16, 1940 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Devils Lake, ND. In 1940 he began working as a bartender at the Club Bar in Edmore. In 1962 he purchased it and renamed it Jim's Bar. He sold the bar and retired in 1979. Jim and Helen spent winters with their family in Grand Forks since 1981. Jim was an avid sports fan all of his life. He loved to curl and was a charter member of the Edmore Curling Club and a member of Concordia Lutheran Church. Helen died February 16, 2001. Jim continued to spend his time in Edmore and Grand Forks. He became a resident of Valley Eldercare Center in August 2007.

Jim will be deeply missed by his 6 children, Margo (Rick) Viger of Fountain Valley, CA, Barry (Sue) Lovgren of Devils Lake, ND, Kyle (Colette) Lovgren of Williston, ND, Kim (Becky) Lovgren of Buchanan, ND, Meredith (Tim) Baumann of Grand Forks, ND, and Melanie (John) Doehler of LaMoure, ND; 12 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife; 5 brothers, Claus, Olaf, Raymond, Paul, and Robert; and 6 sisters, Anna Benson, Marie Lovgren, Elsa Lovgren, Edith Lovgren, Astrid Anderson, and Phyllis Woldy.

Jim's Funeral Service will be held at Concordia Lutheran Church of Edmore, ND, on Monday, June 2, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be the Reverend Sue Mackey. The organist will be John Martinson and the soloist will be Vanessa Lovgren. Interment will be in the Edmore Cemetery. Casketbearers will be Kavan Lovgren, Keefe Lovgren, Andrew Lovgren, Brian Lovgren, Ryan Dragt, Dan O'Connor, J.J. Doehler, and Enrique Nelson. Honorary Bearers will be Roman Rubbelke, Roger Nygaard, Dennis Melland, Rodney Melland, Clark Sampson, Milton Sampson, Ted Fossen, Tom Fossen, Jerome Jenson, Edval Helle, Dale Newgard, Doug Newgard, and Jim Legacie. Visitation will be held at the church on Monday, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service.