James R. Welsh

James Ralph Welsh was born September 4, 1933, the son of Ralph and Ruby Welsh. Life on a North Dakota farm during the Great Depression taught him the value of hard work and compassion. He attended a one-room schoolhouse, then graduated from Langdon High School in 1951. In 1953 he met and married Adelaide (Addie) Kraft, who would be the love of his life for the next 65 years. Combining the practical knowledge acquired on the farm with the study of agriculture, he earned a Ph.D from Montana State College and became a faculty member at Colorado State University, later serving as Dean of the College of Agriculture at Montana State University. Jim’s professional accomplishments included collaboration with Nobel Laureate Dr. Norman Borlaug as they worked to advance the Green Revolution and global food supply, authoring a book on plant genetics, and establishing the Plant Growth Center at Montana State University in 1987. Jim finished his career as the head of the USDA Natural Resources Center in Fort Collins, Colorado.

A devout Catholic, Jim’s unbreakable faith inspired his devotion to his family. Together, he and Addie had five children who flourished under their care, and were inspired by his examples and life lessons. He was an optimistic spirit who always sensed the potential in those he met, and he always made strangers feel welcome. He regularly opened his heart and his home to those who needed help, including caring for his wife’s siblings as they aged. Never one to be defeated by circumstance, during the isolation of the COVID pandemic he taught himself to sew and then proceeded to make over 500 blankets for children who were victims of domestic violence.

Jim passed away on March 11, 2024, at the age of 90. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Addie and son Steven. He is survived by his children: David Welsh (wife Beverly), Michael Welsh (wife Margie), Mark Welsh (wife Ferdouse), Carrie Jenkins (husband Kelly), and grandchildren Alison Hadley (husband Danny), Samantha Karcher (husband Nick), Emily Behm (husband Casey), and Colleen Baird (husband Brian), as well as four great-grandchildren: Kate, Ellie, Charlotte, and Harrison.

The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley in James Welsh’s name.

A funeral mass for James will be held Thursday, April 4, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 2575 W. El Campo Grande, North Las Vegas, NV 89031. A committal service will occur Thursday, April 4, 2024 from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM at Palm Northwest Cemetery, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89131. A reception will occur Thursday, April 4, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Palm Northwest Mortuary, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89131.

For live video of services, select live stream at http://www.sjnc.org/