James K. Bliven, 82, of rural Dakota City, died on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the hospital in Yankton, South Dakota.
Services for Jim began with a burial at Memorial Park Cemetery in Sioux City, Iowa on Friday, April 3, with graveside prayers offered by Reverend Sandra Braasch. Memorial services were held at Salem Lutheran Church in Dakota City.
Mohr & Becker-Hunt Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Donations may be made to Salem Lutheran Church, the Dakota City Fire and Rescue, or the Homer Community Education Foundation.
James K. Bliven was born in Homer, on Oct. 18, 1943 to Kenneth and Evalyn (Waddell) Bliven. He spent the majority of his life on the Bliven farm near Dakota City. Jim attended the rural Heilman Elementary School through eighth grade and graduated from Dakota City High School with the Class of 1961. Jim participated in football, basketball, and track. As a senior, Jim qualified for the Nebraska State Track Meet in 5 events. Jim attended Wayne State College and the University of South Dakota leaving college to continue farming.
Jim married Carolyn Burcum on June 12, 1965. They later divorced. On Aug. 17, 1974, Jim married Jeanine Lundberg at Salem Lutheran Church.
In addition to farming Jim was a conservationist, spending many hours hunting, fishing, and building wetlands and areas for the benefit of wildlife. Jim also sold seed corn for RobSeeCo Golden Harvest for many years. Later in life, Jim spent many hours at the Homer Community School as a substitute teacher, assistant and head coach for the girls basketball team, and girls and boys track coach. His love of children and youth made many happy memories for him at school.
Jim loved to play baseball, softball, basketball, golf, and bowling. He made many memories on hunting and fishing trips with Jeanine, family, and friends to South Dakota, Minnesota, and Canada. For 16 years, Jim and Jeanine spent the winter in Florida making more lifelong friends.
Jim contributed to his community as a past member of the Dakota City Fire and Rescue, board member for the South Sioux Coop, the Dakota Thurston Pheasants Forever, the Homer Community Education Foundation and was a lifetime member of Salem Lutheran Church.
Survivors include his wife, Jeanine; daughters, and their spouses, Sarah and Mike Naeve, Michelle and Scott Hulit, and Amy and Mike Woerdemann; son Mark and Christina Bliven; 13 grandchildren – Nathan (Laura) Hancock, Terence (Whitney) Hancock, Narelle (Sean) Burns, Trace (Abby) Naeve, Kayli, Stephanie, Anna, Mason, and Gracie Naeve, Collin and Colter Bliven, and Christopher (Jordyn) and Joseph Woerdenmann; 8 great-grandchildren – Noah, Isaiah, Henry, Parker, Benjamin, Bailey, Elizabeth, and Duane; sisters-in-law Janell (Ken) Adams and Joanne (Mike) Chedester; and his brother-in-law Paul (Pat) Lundberg.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister and her husband, Wilma and Del Eldredge, grandson Jacob Woerdemann, nephew Chris Harris, niece Mary McInnis, and brother-in-law Kenneth “Butch” Lundberg.
