James F. Bannister

James Francis Bannister was born on September 24, 1937 in Cle Elum, Washington to Francis & Philipine (Francisco) Bannister. Jim, 87, a lifetime Kittitas County resident, passed away on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle.

Jim grew up in Roslyn and graduated from Cle Elum High School in 1955. The winter after high school Jim got a job at the coal mines, specifically the coal washing plant. 

Although he was very studious in high school, Jim chose not to pursue a higher education. Instead, Jim decided to turn in an application at the USDA Forest Service Ranger District in Cle Elum. On May 29, 1956, he started a career with the USDA Forest Service that would span 45 years. In the beginning, Jim worked out of the Ellensburg Ranger Station, as a seasonal employee; manning fire lookout towers, planting ponderosa pine seedlings in clear cuts, telephone line maintenance, and burning slash piles after timber sales. In 1959, Jim was hired as a permanent employee with the Ellensburg Ranger District. 

In December 1960, Jim was drafted into the United States Army, stationed at Fort Lewis. He was deployed to Germany in January of 1962. In the army, Jim was a clerk and jeep driver for the Company Executive Officer. Jim was awarded a Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged in December 1962. 

In 1962, when his army time concluded, he returned home to Roslyn and resumed his work with the Forest Service. Throughout his career he worked in Headquarters Fireman, blasting and transporting explosives, mining claims, law enforcement, minerals, range management, recreation, special uses, trail management, Cultural Resource Coordinator, and Fire Management Officer. When the Ellensburg Ranger Station closed, Jim transferred to the Cle Elum Ranger Station. He retired on December 29, 2000. 

Jim spent a lot of time in airplanes at the Forest Service from fire spotting-aerial patrol to cargo drops. In June 1971, he also spent some time in Alaska doing cargo drops. He loved his time in the air and the pilots he got to ride with. In 1971, Jim obtained his private pilot’s license. Over the next two years he was able to use his GI Benefits to earn Commercial, Multi Engine and Instrument ratings. 

Jim married the love of his life, Signe Andreasen, on October 5, 1974 in Ellensburg. The newlyweds knew they wanted to live in the country and found the right spot on the west side of the valley. In 1974, Jim and his dad, Francis, a retired carpenter, built the house where the couple resided for 50 years and raised their children. Jim and Signe celebrated their 50th anniversary in the house that he built. Jim’s greatest joy was his family. He was so supportive and proud of his children, Andrea and Daniel. He never missed a game or match of theirs and there were a lot. If it was cold and windy on the sidelines or warm and cozy in a gym, Jim was always at soccer, basketball, cross country, wrestling, and track events. After they each graduated from Ellensburg High School, he continued to volunteer at various EHS athletic events in many capacities. He was a sports fan through and through. 

In 2013, Jim had the great joy of becoming “Deda” - Croatian for “grandpa” - to Amelia and in 2015 Ashtyn joined the family. He loved those two girls and lit up everytime he got to see them. They definitely held a special place in his heart and he in theirs. He loved all of the “grand” times he got to have with them, the yearly trips to Hawaii, going to the Washington coast, having ice cream, watching them compete in gymnastics, or picking them up from school. It didn’t matter what they were doing, every moment was a treasure. They were a bright spot in his life.

Jim was always very active, loved hiking, and being in the woods. He was called a “mountain goat” by the younger guys who worked for him on his trail crews. He could beat them to the top of any mountain when they left the ranger station way before him. Whether it was hiking, taking photographs of all of the waterfalls in Kittitas County, rockhounding or snowmobiling, Jim loved being outdoors. Jim was a founding member of the Snomads, the first snowmobile club in Upper Kittitas County. He also loved golfing, sketching, woodworking, and making beautiful pieces of stained glass. One of his pieces in remembrance of Ray Westberg hangs in an east window of the EHS library. 

Jim’s faith was of great importance to him. A lifelong Catholic, he was baptized, received his first communion, served as an altar boy, and was confirmed at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Roslyn. After he moved to Ellensburg, he became a loyal parishioner of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 17, 2025 at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, 401 S Willow Street in Ellensburg with burial and military honors to follow at High Valley Cemetery. Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 16, at St. Andrew’s. Viewing for friends and family will also be on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Johnston & Williams Funeral Home, 301 E Third Ave in Ellensburg.

Memorial contributions in Jim’s honor are suggested to Hearts and Hands of Kittitas County, c/o KCHN, 110 W 6th Avenue PMB #393, Ellensburg, WA 98926 or the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society P.O. Box 55, Wenatchee, WA 98807

Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Ellensburg. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.johnston-williams.com