Lawrence "Jim" Mahoney, 91, Douglas, died on Thursday, March 15, 2018 at the Garrison Hospital. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 24, at 12:00 pm at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Garrison. The rosary set for Friday evening has been cancelled due to poor weather conditions.

Lawrence James (Jim) Mahoney, 91, Douglas, North Dakota, died Thursday, March 15, 2018 at Garrison Hospital from cardiac arrest.

Jim was born May 28, 1926, in Parshall, North Dakota. He was the second child of Edward and Margaret (Schiewek) Mahoney. He was baptized at St Bridget Catholic Church in Parshall. He attended school in Garrison and Benedict, North Dakota. He left school after 8th grade and worked on the section for the Soo Line Railroad.

He was drafted into the US Armed Services in 1944. He reported to the Recruiting depot where he volunteered first for the Navy and then the United States Marine Corps. He completed his basic training at Paris Island, and advanced training at Camp Lejune, before boarding a troop ship in Norfolk to join the Marines in the Pacific Fleet. Enroute to Hawaii he went through the Panama Canal. He missed the ships leaving for Iwo Jima and spent 13 months on Maui learning to drive amphibious tractors. After the war was over he transitioned through Camp Pendleton then was honorably discharged and returned to the family home in Douglas in 1946.

He went back to school on the GI bill finishing his junior and senior year in 1946-47 and graduated in May 1947 from Douglas High School. He accepted his first depot agent assignment in Wabek, North Dakota.

While he was at Wabek, he went to his sister, Fran's wedding and met the love of his life, Bertha Merk. They were married August 30, 1948 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Douglas and made their home in Wabek.

On June 27, 1949, Jim and Betty were blessed with their eldest son, Daniel, and two years later blessed with Lawrence Michael. In 1957 Stephen added to their family and seven years later Susan completed the Mahoney clan of the bear.

Because the railroad was on a bid system the family was not always in one place very long. They lived in Wabek, Sanish, Benedict, Ryder, Douglas, Overly, Devils Lake and back to Douglas where he retired from the Soo Line in November 1988 after 46 years. He loved his work and the sound of the train always brought a smile to his face.

Jim had a fiery temperament when he was young, but mellowed into a gentle soul as he grew older. He had an amazing smile and his eyes twinkled as he caught his first glimpse of you and made you feel like you were the most special person in the world. He was so proud of his Irish heritage. The song "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" could have been written for him. His Lord, his family, his friends, the Marine Corps, the American Legion and the Soo Line were the most important things to him. Although he didn't go to college he was well read. He enjoyed his desert trips, times with fellow veterans no matter what branch, his fellow Marines, who always had a special place in his heart and time with loved ones. He loved children and animals and both made his eyes light up with joy. He was instrumental in the building of the Memorial Wall in Ryder and spent many nights thinking of names of veterans who had been missed originally.

He died after he collapsed in the car while beginning the rosary and saying the Apostles Creed, a beautiful example of how he lived his life.

He is loved and survived by his wife, Betty Mahoney; his favorite son, Larry (Janet) Mahoney of San Diego, California; his special daughter Susan (David) Weber of Horace, North Dakota; his sisters Frances Frost, Phoenix, Arizona and Phyllis Porter, Goldendale, Washington; brothers Donald (Marlene) Mahoney, Madison, Wisconsin, and Dennis (Maryalice) Mahoney, Winston, Georgia, sister-in-law Myrtle Peterschick of San Diego, California; his cherished granddaughter , Michelle (Michael) Cole, and their children, Collin and Shane, Lakeside, California and his treasured grandson , Larry (Kristen) Mahoney, and their children Larry and Anthony, San Diego, California. Special "daughters" Stephanie (Richard) Hagen, Monica Eriksmoen, Teresa Petz, Sue Ellen Feist , Paulette (Craig) Lozensky; "sons" Timothy (Julie) Petz, Thomas Petz, John (Lynn) Petz, Peter Petz, Daniel (Myrna) Ness and several grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. He is also survived by the godchildren he and Betty shared including JD Hardy, Connie Rood, Rosemary Bretz, David Woiwode, Brian Frost, Peter Petz, Paulette Lozensky, Jim Porter, Luann Mata, Julie Brandvold, Lawrence Mahoney, and Elizabeth Eckstrom whom they prayed for every day.

He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, sons Daniel and Stephen, his aunts and uncles, brothers-in-law Charles Husted, Elroy Peterschick, Robert Frost, Glen Willoughby, Nathaniel Porter, a special "daughter" Maureen Hagen, and goddaughter Jackie Schutte.

He was very involved in his community: he was a member of the American Legion, Catholic War Veterans, 4th degree Knights of Columbus, Moose Lodge, and former Douglas City Councilman and auditor. He loved gardening, genealogy, and picking weeds while sitting on his red chair.

Mass of Christian Burial: Saturday , March 24, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Garrison.

Internment: Rosehill Cemetery, Ryder, North Dakota.
Visitation: Friday 3 to 5 p.m. at St Nicholas Catholic Church, Garrison.

Vigil Prayer Service: Friday at 5 p.m. at St Nicholas Catholic Church, Garrison.

Semper Fi, my brothers and sisters, Semper Fi