Oliver "Jim" Braaten

Oliver James “Jim” Braaten March 6, 1939 – December 11, 2022 Jim was born in Mekinock, ND on March 6, 1939, to Pete and Nellie Braaten. He graduated in 1957 from Manvel High School and joined the United States Army in 1962. After leaving the Army, he moved to Everett, Washington, where he worked at Associated Sand and Gravel for over 30 years. He married Colleen Woods in 1968 and became a loving, supporting father of her 3 children: Kathie, Lyle “Boon” and Ginna. Jim enjoyed many hobbies that included playing pool, riding motorcycles, racing cars and traveling with Colleen to different racetracks through the years. He had a love of card games as well as outdoor sports including volleyball, cornhole, and ladder ball. The thing he loved most was just being with his kids and grandkids. After Colleen’s passing, Jim returned to Manvel to be with his Braaten family who he was always close to and who missed him very much. Jim joined Trinity Lutheran Church in Manvel after meeting Pastor Noel who we can’t thank enough for assisting Jim in the journey of his illness and guiding him in his faith. He passed peacefully on December 11, 2022, with his family by his side into the loving arms of our Lord. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, wife Colleen, granddaughter Alisha May Morton, sisters Lorraine Schlenker, Donna Onneland, and Laverne Erickson, brothers Norman, Wally, Pete Jr., and Gary Braaten. He leaves behind his sister Randina Gerbereux, sister-in-law Marianne Braaten, children: Kathie (Don) Pedersen, Lyle “Boon” (Deanette) Woods, Ginna (Ron) Morton; grandchildren: Sherri Pedersen, Justin Pedersen, Kyle (Angela) Morton, Natalie (Donovan) Roders, Brad Morton, Mistie (Erik) Berger, Lyle (Brandi) Woods, Ronnie (Ashley) Morton, Kassie (Brandon) Harkness, 21 great grandchildren, 4 great great grandchildren, many special nieces and nephews and his very good friend Ed Nagle. We want to thank Judi Braaten for all of her love, care and support of our very special dad. She meant the world to him. Funeral service will be held Thursday, December 15, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Manvel. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the start of the service at the church. The service will be lived streamed on the facebook page for Trinity Lutheran Church, Manvel: https://www.facebook.com/tlcmanvel/