James Harold Meagher, age 92, of Mitchell, SD died Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Saturday, February 29, 2020 at Holy Family Catholic Church with burial and military rites at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday, February 28, 2020 at the Will Funeral Chapel with a prayer service beginning at 7:00 PM.

James Harold Meagher, the fifth child of William and Grace (Valliant) Meagher, was born June 4, 1927 in Lucerne, SD. Shortly after James was born, his family moved to a ranch a few miles north of Philip, SD, which was near his mother's family. James graduated from Philip High School in 1945 and on June 16, 1945 entered the United States Marine Corps. He was honorably discharged on August 30, 1946.

After the Marine Corps, James moved to Pukwana, SD and was a truck driver near where his brothers Earl and Robert lived. He also was a teacher at a country school for a year near Pukwana, SD. Then he worked at Boeing in Seattle, WA in the parts department for a short time before moving back to South Dakota. James and his friend Jean Kern, owned the Sky Haven Café on old highway 16 in Mitchell, SD for a brief time. The Sky Haven Restaurant was in the Anderson Airport, which was an airport mainly for spraying crops on farmland. In the late 1940's, the county bought out the airport and is currently the Davison County 4-H grounds.

In 1952, James was working for Rozum's Motor Company, which was the Ford Dealership in Mitchell, SD and this is where he met his future wife Mildred Puetz. James and Mildred Puetz were united in marriage on October 28, 1952 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell, SD. James and Mildred had six children: John, Wayne, William, Lisa, Michael and Randy.

James worked at Rozum's in the Parts Department when he retired after more than 40 years in June of 1992. James was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and the American Legion in Mitchell.

Grateful for having shared his life are his five children, John Meagher, Pierre, SD, Wayne (Julie) Meagher, Aberdeen, SD, William Meagher, Pierre, SD, Lisa Ziebart, Mitchell, SD, Michael Meagher, Mitchell, SD; seven grandchildren, Kelly (Scott) Pitlick, Kristin (Kevin) Bowen, Derek Meagher, Eric Meagher, Jason Meagher, Rob (Mandy) Hall, Mandy (Ben) Deschepper; and many great grandchildren; a brother, Alan Meagher, Hardwick, MN.

James was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Mildred on November 19, 2017; an infant son, Randy; an infant grandson, Joshua; his parents; three brothers, Earl and Robert Meagher, Chamberlain, SD and Leonard Meagher, Wild Rose, ND; and a sister, Phyllis Heitman, Hardwick, MN.