He was born on January 28, 1936, in Faribault, MN, to John and Eva Thune Tilly. Jim graduated from Davis High School in 1955.

He retired from the North Davis County Sewer District, where he served many years as a lineman. Jim took great pride in his work and was respected by his colleagues for his reliability, integrity, and dedication. He enjoyed many years inspecting lines throughout the area and made many lifelong friends along the way.

Jim was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 134 and recently renewed his 50-year membership, a testament to his unwavering patriotism and support for service members. He remained active in the organization throughout his life, taking part in meaningful traditions such as filling Easter eggs for local children and placing several thousand flags on veterans’ graves on Memorial Day over the years. He was also a long-time sponsor of the Boys and Girls Club, a member of the Brigham Gun Club, and the Ogden Gun Club.

Jim had a deep love for the outdoors. He found profound joy in fishing, hunting, and teaching others to trap shoot. He was also an avid coin collector and took great pride in his vast collection. He was always sure to buy the new Sacagawea coins each year and share them with his family and friends. His passion for these pastimes was matched only by the stories he loved to share from those adventures.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Dalene Bishop; Randy (Diane) Lillegard; Susan (Dennis) Hall; Theodore Lillegard; Lorie Wendel; granddaughters, Maigan (Landon) Wilcox and Ashlee (Diego) Garcia; as well as many other grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Though not connected by blood, Jim’s love and care for us were unconditional. He always treated us as his own, making sure we were safe, supported, and deeply loved. His steady presence and selfless devotion will be remembered with great love and gratitude. We are all thankful and blessed that he chose us to be his family.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents and two older brothers, Jack and Pat Tilly.

A celebration of life will be held in Jim’s honor on August 23, 2025, from 2-4 pm, at the American Legion Post #134, 345 Depot St., Clearfield, Utah. He is overjoyed to be reunited with our pups, Peanut and Rambo, and his beloved dog Jesse.