James (Jim) Ejvin Mikkelsen, 75, of Hankinson, ND passed away Thursday March 21, 2024 at his residence surrounded by loved ones and Hospice of the Red River Valley. A Celebration of Life, Prayer Service, and Honor Services will be on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 1pm at Jim and Caroline’s Hankinson, ND residence in the garage that he was very proud of. The burial will be later in May 2024 at the Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, ND.

Jim was born May 1, 1948 in Valley City, ND. The son of Ejvin and Jean (Naset) Mikkelsen.  He was raised on a farm north of Marion, ND.  Jim attended grade school in a small rural country school in Clark City, ND and then Svea, ND. He attended high school in Marion ND.  He married Annette Straus in 1969.  They resided in Sanborn, ND during most of that time and had one son, Anthony (Tony) Mikkelsen.  Jim married his love of his life Caroline (Roeder) on November 23, 2001, in Wahpeton, ND. He made his home in Hankinson, ND.  Jim joined the Army National Guard in 1967 through 1989 when he retired from the guard with an honorable discharge.

Over the years he worked at Steiger Tractor, Farmers Elevator, Enterprise Sales and Harvest States Elevator Coop before starting his owner operator trucking career with Mayer Truck Line.  Jim retired from trucking after 28 years with Mayer.   Jim received awards for 3 million accident-free miles along with several other trucking awards, Quilt of Valor, and recently got to experience Welcome Virtual Honor Flight in his home as he was too ill to go on the flight.

Jim enjoyed volunteering his time at the Veterans garden/park, wild asparagus picking, hunting prairie dogs in Montana, camping in the MN woods on his property up there, road trips and shaking dice with friends at the local Hot Cakes Cafe.

Jim is survived by his wife, Caroline Mikkelsen;  son, Anthony (Tricia) Mikkelsen; Stepchildren, Wendy (Jeremy) Eggers, April (Melvin) Quistorff, and Danny Roeder;  grandchildren,  Bryan, Nicolas and Madison Mikkelsen; Step grandchildren, Damien Lugert, Brayden Heitkamp, Preston Eggers, Angelika and Katelynn Quistorff and Stella Roeder;  Siblings, JoAnne (Jerome) Jorgenson, Steve Mikkelsen, and Mike (Kris) Mikkelsen.  As well as nieces, nephews, many other family and friends.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents Ejvin and Jean Mikkelson; baby brother Douglas Mikkelsen; Grandparents Sievert and Karen Mikkelsen and Elmer and Elizabeth Naset. Their beloved pets Kermit and Lily.