James Rhoades

James Harvey Rhoades, Jr. (Dusty) passed away suddenly on December 29, 2020, from the effects of Parkinson’s disease, which he had been battling for more than ten years. Graveside services will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Newcastle at 1 p.m. Monday, January 4, 2021.

Dusty made his appearance on April 3, 1940, at home three miles east of Custer, SD. He was the first child born to James Harvey Rhoades and Helen Elizabeth Huber Rhoades.

The family eventually settled in Newcastle, WY, where Dusty started school and then graduated in the Class of 1958.

Following graduation, Dusty enlisted in the Navy where he served aboard the USS Uhlmann. He married Louise Brown during this time and two children were born to them, exactly one year apart. Dusty and Louise later divorced.

In 1975, Dusty made his way to Helena, MT. It was there he met Barbara Raup on a carefully researched blind date (it’s quite a story, to be told another time). They recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary.

Dusty worked as a carpenter with his father in the early years, and near the end of his career worked as a maintenance engineer at the federal buildings in Helena and Billings, MT, as well as at the hospitals in those cities. When it came time to retire, Dusty and Barb returned to his hometown where they have resided the past 18 years.

Dusty was involved in competitive cowboy shooting, in addition to shooting with his Sharps rifle at the Quigley shoots at Forsyth, MT. He enjoyed woodworking and created many beautiful pieces. More recently Dusty started collecting buffalo, including a life-sized one that resides in front of the house. His favorite pastime was adopting rescue dogs and spoiling them!

Dusty is survived by his wife Barbara; children Brenda (Kiel) Nahs of Chandler, AZ; Kevin (Kim) Rhoades of Albuquerque, NM; and Danny (Tristen) Rhoades of Caldwell, ID; along with siblings Jody Gould, Randy (Jane), Rocky (Kim) of Newcastle, WY; and Toby (Evette) of Buffalo, WY. He has eight grandchildren; Tyler, Kendahl, Hannah, Christopher, William, Jonathan, Lacie and Daniel, and four great granddaughters. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Weston County Humane Society, Eastern Star Service Dog Project, or First United Methodist Church of Newcastle.