James C. Hartford, 63, Dickinson, N.D., a former Osawatomie resident, died Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007.

He was born June 7, 1944, in Paola, the son of William Clayton and Gladys Dorathy Shelden Hartford. He grew up in Osawatomie and was a 1962 graduate of Osawatomie High School. He earned a bachelor of science in petroleum engineering from the University of Kansas.

He and Sylvia Hutchens, also of the Osawatomie area, were married May 31, 1964, in Osawatomie.

His career took them to Stillwater, Okla.; Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, and Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Fort Collins, Colo.; Casper, Wyo.; Bell Creek, Mont.; and Castle Rock, Colo., before they settled in Dickinson in 1978.

For many years, he and his wife ran EWS Well Services based in Dickinson, serving the oil field industry in North Dakota and Montana. He used his experience in North Dakota cold-weather operations to help build equipment and train teams in Alaska and Russia.

Later, he managed the Rocky Mountain Region for Pool Well Services and then served as vice president in charge of factory operations at TMI in Dickinson. Most recently, he worked as a consultant and applied his lifelong skills of managing operations and engineering on such projects as the ground support equipment for an Atlas Space Launch Complex at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and water control gates at The Dalles Dam in The Dalles, Ore. He also continued to consult for clients in the oil field industry.

Mr. Hartford truly loved his work and was respected by employees and coworkers as someone with high expectations, but who was always willing to teach someone a new skill or put on his coveralls and help get the job done.

When he wasn't working, he enjoyed spending time with his wife and family, building his airplane, fixing cars and machinery, woodworking and reading.

His family knew him to be a devoted husband, father and grandfather.

He was an active member of the Immanuel Baptist Church and gave freely of his time and talents.

Those preceding him in death include his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Sylvia, of the home; two children, Daniel of Newcastle, Wash., and Colleen of Encinata, Calif.; two siblings, Reed Hartford of Fort Scott and Heidi Kessler of Paola; and three grandchildren.

Services were Thursday, August 9, at the Hillside Baptist Church in Dickinson. Entombment was at the Dickinson Mausoleum.

A memorial has been established in his name and may be sent to Ladbury Funeral Service, 1133 I-94 Business Loop East, Dickinson. N.D.