James Vernon Rudolph Velde

James “Jim” V. Velde, age 82, of Alexandria, formerly of Chokio, died on Sunday, January 8, 2023, at Knute Nelson Care Center.

Funeral services are 11 a.m., Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at Lind Family Funeral Home in Alexandria with Rev. Hector Franco officiating.  Music is provided by Sarah Severson. Interment will take place at Artichoke Lake Cemetery, rural Cornell.

Visitation 5-7 p.m., Monday at Lind Family Funeral Home in Alexandria and will continue one hour prior to the service.

James Vernon Rudolph was born on September 10, 1940, to Clifford and Violet (Matthews) Velde in Starbuck. He grew up on the family farm near Villard and attended school. His family moved to the Miltona area where he worked as a farm hand. Jim attended Hanson Trade School in Fargo, North Dakota for autobody repair. He worked for Grossman Chevrolet in Minneapolis for two years and with his brother, DeWayne in the janitorial business for several years. Jim was united in marriage to Shirley Ann Schlosser in Belle River on June 8, 1962. Following their marriage, they continued living in Minneapolis and later moved back to the Miltona area. He worked for Ramon Nelson’s Body Shop for a couple of years and was an excellent spray painter. Jim started his own business, Jim’s Body Shop in rural Miltona, drove school bus for District #206, Alexandria and following an accident in 1975, worked as a custodian at Miltona Elementary School. He moved to Chokio and worked as a custodian at the school where he met his future bride, Shirley Wade. They were married on April 7, 1979, and continued to live in Chokio, until poor health caused the decision to move to Knute Nelson in Alexandria. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Darlene Pehan, CarolAnn Lang, and Vicky Nelson; brother, Richard Velde; son, Steven Velde; great grandchild, baby Wunderlich; and wife, Shirley Velde; and stepson, John Wade.

Jim is survived by his two children, Julie Propst of Parkers Prairie and Jon (Colleen Thompson) of Alexandria; daughter-in-law, Gini Velde of Salem, Oregon; siblings, DeWayne Velde of Leesburg, Florida, Rosemary Velde of Cumberland, Wisconsin, Barbara Shaw and Joanne Velde both of St. Paul; brother-in-law, Harland Nelson of Cambridge; five stepchildren, Kay Gullord of Anoka, Brad (Linda) Wade of Oberlin, Kansas, Rodney Wade of Moorhead, Julie Ehrp of Chokio; six grandchildren, Sara (John) Skoglund of Miltona, Chris Velde of Parkers Prairie, Andrew (Kim Schroeder) Velde of Carlos, Rachel (Michael) Wunderlich of Parkers Prairie, Katlyn Velde of Parkers Prairie and Kylie Velde of Carlos; seven great-grandchildren, Peyton and Brianna Skoglund, Mikayla, Hannah, Paige and Isaac Velde and Kolton Wunderlich; several nieces and nephews; and the mother of his children, Shirley Syverson of Alexandria.

Pallbearers are his grandchildren.