On March 8, 2026, James (Jim) Harvey Flynn, loving husband, father, and grandfather passed away at the age of 78 with his family by his side at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.

Jim was born on May 5, 1947 in Minneapolis, MN to Ruth Lorayn (Willetts) and Lewis Wayne Flynn. After graduating High School from Wayzata, MN in 1965, Jim went on to join the Army and was deployed to Vietnam in 1967. Jim was wounded in Vietnam. While serving, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 Device, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Bronze Star Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal, Purple Heart, Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation w/ Palm, Air Medal with “V” Device, and Ranger Tab.

Jim left the Army as an E-6 Staff Sergeant and came to Grand Forks, ND in 1970 where his parents had purchased Red Ray Lanes after Lew had retired from Brunswick. It was in Grand Forks where Jim first learned to run a bowling center with his family. Red Ray Lanes would lead to Jim’s lifetime love of the sport of bowling and through the partnership with his father and brother, would lead to the acquisition of Empire Bowl in Sioux Falls, SD and West Acres Bowl in Fargo, ND.

Jim was deeply respected in the bowling community and dedicated his life to the advancement of the sport and support of bowling in North and South Dakota. He loved the bowlers and giving the communities quality centers. In the 1980s, he started the Say No to Drugs Bowling Program to provide free bowling to children in in the summer and give kids a safe place to spend their time, he worked with local schools to get the program into the hands of kids throughout the cities he served. Jim continued to work even after he became ill, never allowing anything to stand in his way of his commitment to bowling. Jim won many awards for Meritorious Service for Bowling though the local and state associations. He was a member of the Greater Grand Forks and North Dakota State Bowling Halls of Fame.

In 1976 he met his first wife and welcomed two daughters Kathy (1978) and Jamie (1982). Then in 1992, Jim married his wife Jayne Moreland, the love of his life. Jayne had two children Chris and Amy Moreland. This union completed his family, adding two more children to his life.

Jim was a family man and loved spending time fishing with his brother and father in his earlier years and then as a father and grandfather with his own children. His favorite place was Lake of the Woods, he loved navigating the big lake and fishing for Walleye. He loved traveling and taking adventures with his wife, Jayne.

Jim is survived by his wife Jayne, his daughters Kathy, Grand Forks, ND and Jamie (George), Reiles Acres, ND; step-son Christopher Moreland (Tammie), Eden Priarie, MN; step-daughter Amy Sanders, East Grand Forks, MN; and brother David Flynn, Rogers, AR.

Jim felt a calling to impart his guidance and wisdom to his grandchildren. He cherished his time with them and in turn they loved their Papa. Jim is also survived by four grandchildren Henry McDonald, Reiles Acres, ND; Annemarie Moreland, Chicago, IL; Wyatt Sanders, East Grand Forks, MN; and Cutler Thompson, East Grand Forks, MN.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and his sister-in-law, Sharon Flynn.

Jim will always be remembered as a true conversationalist, anyone that had the chance to visit with him will remember these conversations. He will be remembered for the love of his family, his greatest joy, and his legacy will continue on through them and all that loved him.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00pm at Amundson Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will take place at Fargo National Cemetery at a later date.