James W. Dighans 1945–2026

Former area resident James “Jim” Dighans, 81, of Miles City died Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Holy Rosary Hospice in Miles City.

Jim attended grade school in Peerless, and high school in Peerless and Spokane, Washington.

He began his career with the U.S. Navy in January 1964 and spent time in Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Vietnam. His principal tours of duty were aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard, where he worked primarily on the flight deck fueling jets. He also served for a time in Da Nang, Vietnam.

On Jan. 1, 1967, while traveling by train on a cold winter day to return to his base before his third trip to Vietnam, Jim met his future wife, Jane Bowler of Scobey. She was returning to college in Cheney, Washington.

They did not see each other again for six months, when Jim returned in July 1967. They were married Sept. 30, 1967, and ...