View Jim's visitation and time of sharing here

View Jim's Memorial Service here

James "Jim" Andersen, age 85, of Fargo, ND, formerly of Detroit Lakes and Ulen, MN, passed away on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at Sanford Palliative Care in Fargo.

James "Jim" Martin Andersen was born on July 17, 1940, in Crookston, MN. He was the only child of Fern Ellson Andersen and Arthur "Art" Andersen, Jr. He graduated from high school in Ulen, MN, in 1958, then graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, in 1962, with a degree in Psychology and Business. He married Lavalle Winden on June 29, 1962. He and LaValle moved to Minneapolis, MN, where he worked at the Marquet National Bank in Downtown Minneapolis as an auditor.

Jim and LaValle moved to Chippewa Falls, WI, where he worked as comptroller at Northwestern Bank of Wisconsin. He also studied at the National Association of Bank Auditors and Comptrollers (NABAC) School of Banking in Madison, WI, which is a graduate school of banking, and graduated in 1966.

They moved to Wayzata, MN, where he worked as a stockbroker in the IDS Tower in Downtown Minneapolis, then as a bank auditor at Wayzata State Bank. They welcomed two children, Arthur John "AJ" Andersen III and Elizabeth Andersen, before moving back to Ulen, MN, with his family in 1973. He took over the family business and served as the president, CEO, and owner of Northwestern State Bank of Ulen, which later became Northwestern Bank, N.A., further expanding locations to Dilworth, Moorhead, Hendrum, Detroit Lakes, and Fergus Falls.

Jim and LaValle moved to Moorhead, MN, in 1990, before moving to Detroit Lakes, MN, in 2000. During this time, he served on the Board of Directors at Northwestern Bank and attended bank seminars, as well as serving on several boards of directors for banks, churches, nursing homes, and country clubs. He also helped people by being their appointed conservator. His bank employees became like family to him, and many of his customers became good friends. In 2018, he was awarded the Edward Shorma Excellence in Family Business award for Northwestern Bank and the Andersen family.  Jim was the third generation to run the bank.

Despite his busy work life, he made sure to have time for fun. Jim loved to golf – he golfed 36 holes every Monday, starting at 7am so he and his friends could get to work on time. When he was in college, he was on the Concordia golf team. He scored multiple holes in one, played in many golf leagues, and won many tournaments. He also enjoyed bowling and was on various bowling teams; he even bowled a 300. Jim loved music, he sang in choirs and played the piano, saxophone, and drums. He was a man of strong faith in God and read the Bible daily. He believed in giving back to his communities and helping others. He traveled to England with LaValle and his friends and took a golfing trip to Ireland. He and LaValle got a winter place in Naples, Florida, where he golfed and ate his way through the city. Jim knew where the best key lime pie was within a 100-mile radius. When at his home in Detroit Lakes, he enjoyed golfing, cruising on the pontoon, and fishing. But his favorite thing to do was entertain his grandkids Isabella, James, and Alexander.

He moved to Fargo, ND, in 2024, where he could be closer to his family. He spent his final days in Downtown Sanford's Hospice House. In the days before he passed, he had the opportunity to see or speak with most of his family and friends. Jim passed peacefully on August 14, 2025, surrounded by his family.

Jim is survived by his wife, Lavalle; his daughter Elizabeth; and his three grandchildren: Isabella, James, and Alexander. He was preceded in death by his father, Art; his mother, Fern; and his, son AJ. Jim was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

A visitation and time of sharing will be held Friday, September 5, 2025, from 5pm – 7pm, with a prayer service beginning at 6:30pm, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ulen. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 10:00am at the First Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND.