Jim was born on June 4, 1943, to Willis Cleo "Bill" and Winifred (Edmonds) Sumners in Murdo, SD. He was the 11th of 14 children that grew up at the family farm near White River, SD. He spent his youth helping out on the farm. During his high school years, he lived with his older sister, Nadine Tucker and family, in White River and graduated in 1962. After high school he traveled for a time, but soon realized he missed his home and family in White River and from then on really knew he loved his hometown. He was working at the Coop when he met Katherine (Kathy) Harris. They were married in 1969 and had four children. He then went to work for his father-in-law, Reed Harris in Hot Springs, SD. From there he took a job in the oil field, which moved the family to Colorado, Oklahoma, Nebraska and ultimately Buffalo, WY. He retired from the oil industry in 2006 and moved back to his hometown of White River. It was then he fell in love with Mary Brandis. They built a house and life together where he was able to enjoy the place he had always considered home. Jim loved family gatherings, big or small. He might be best known for his story telling and his oh so infectious laugh. Jim had a real talent for fixing everything - from tractors, to cars and trucks, to pretty much everything around the house. He was so proud to fix something for much of nothing, and he was really good at it. In his retirement he enjoyed a simple life - planting his fruit trees and keeping the yard looking good. Of course coffee breaks were a regular occurrence and the stories were endless. Jim is survived by his significant other: Mary Brandis of White River; four children: Kimberly (Don) Padilla of Laramie, WY; Brian Sumners of White River; Misti Sumners of Spearfish, SD; Brandon Sumners of Page, AZ; three grandchildren: Skyler Sumners, Makenna Clark, and Connor Clark; one brother: Dan Sumners of Williston, ND; one sister: Marjorie Desport of Covina, CA; one brother-in-law Darrell Dutoit of Edgemont, SD; two sisters-in-law Sharon Sumners of Pierre and Linda Sumners of Spearfish; friend and mother of his children: Katherine Sumners; Mary Brandis' family; and a host of other relatives and friends. Jim was preceded in death by his parents: Willis and Winifred Sumners; four brothers: Ike, Jack, Johnny and Pat Sumners; seven sisters: Shirley Kuper, Myrt Larson, Billie Nordlie, Evelyn Dutoit, Nadine Tucker, Goldie Reichardt, and Ida Lorraine Sumners (in infancy). Visitation will be held 5-7p. m. CDT Friday, June 17, at the White River Community Events Center. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a. m. CDT Saturday, June 18, 2022 at the White River Community Events Center with Pastor Kathy Chesney officiating. Interment will follow at the White River Cemetery. Friday, June 17, 2022 - 5-7 p. m. CDT Community Events Center White River, South Dakota Saturday, June 18, 2022 - 11:00 a. m. CDT Community Events Center White River, South Dakota CLERGY Pastor Kathy Chesney MUSIC "Sunny Slopes of Yesterday" "Summer's End (Come on Home)" "The Leaving" USHERS Heath Leibel - Tyrell Tucker Dorothy Stromer - Karen O'Brien Skye Tucker - Katie Lafferty Mike Leibel - Cliff Hill Lonnie Piper - Lance Tucker - Jason Sumners Dustin Sumners - Don Padilla - Colton Clark Jr. Brandis - Chip Brandis All Relatives and Friends in Attendance White River Cemetery White River, South Dakota