James "Jim" Bert Pannell

James “Jim” Bert Pannell, 85, passed away on June 24, 2026, in his home in Great Falls, Montana.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 pm Thursday, July 16, 2026, at the Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel.

Jim was born November 16, 1940, to Helena Sullivan Pannell and James Brazelton Pannell, in Missoula, Montana. He graduated in 1959 from Great Falls High School and attended the University of Montana and graduated from the University of Denver earning his BA in Business Administration in 1964 and his MBA in August 1966.

Jim grew up the oldest of four, with his brother, John and sisters, Marylane and Joan, in Great Falls. The family did quite a bit of camping, fishing, and boating growing up around Great Falls and the Swan and Flathead valleys. Jim had a lifelong love of boating and owned many boats throughout the years that the family always enjoyed being out on. The family also owned the Midtown Motel and all the kids worked in the motel and the Smitty’s restaurant.

Jim was an avid skier, and when he was in 7th grade saved his money from a job to buy ski equipment. He was very active on the Great Falls High ski team, then in college in the winter in Aspen, and later as ski instructor to his son and stepdaughters and many others at Showdown. He loved skiing and would talk about it all year long, anticipating every season and accumulating a new pair, or two, of skis each year. Jim skied almost every weekend until he was 83 years old and always looked forward to the annual Ski Bum’s trips with his friends.

Jim and his wife, Nancy started dating in 1978, they had known each other at Great Falls High, and they were married December 7, 1979, at Nancy’s parents’ home in a small family ceremony. Nancy’s husband had passed away a few years before and Jim became an excellent father to her daughters, Melissa and Gretchen, of course teaching them how to ski among many other things. The family spent many wonderful weekends over the years at the small family cabin Jim had built with his father in Neihart, Montana close to Showdown ski area. The family would spend time in the summer in Bigfork, and many summer weekends were spent golfing at the Meadowlark Country Club.

Jim was very active in the community in Great Falls. For years he was the Director of Human Resources for Buttrey Foods and then later worked for Lamar Outdoor Advertising. He was a long-time member of the Great Falls Ski Club, the Great Falls Rotary Club, and the Great Falls Public Library Foundation, eventually serving as Chairman. He was also a member and then President of the board of the Meadowlark Country Club.

Jim is survived by his wife, Nancy; son, Chris Pannell; stepdaughters, Melissa Smith and Gretchen Munderloh; brother, John Pannell; sister, Marylane Pannell; granddaughters, Grace, Elle, and Genevieve Pannell; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the charity of your choice in his honor.