James “Jim” Ferguson, age 85, of Canby, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. Memorial services for Jim will be held at 3 PM on Friday, October 30th at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Canby. Prior to the service, there will be a visitation at the church from 2 – 3 PM. Casual dress requested. A Celebration of Life and dinner, as requested by Jim, will be held at the Canby Sportsman’s Club beginning at 4 PM. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby, MN is entrusted with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Our Saviours Lutheran Church or the Canby High School FFA Chapter.
Jim was a lifelong farmer and resident of Canby. For Jim, farming was more than a profession—it was a way of life. He spent his years working the land, planting and harvesting crops, and taking great pride in caring for the fields he called home. His dedication to farming reflected his strong work ethic, perseverance, and deep connection to the land. Jim was united in marriage to his cherished wife Cheryl in 1989. Together, they shared a life filled with family, hard work, and many special memories. Jim and Cheryl also enjoyed traveling and cruising, and spending time with friends and family along the way. He will be remembered for his hardworking spirit, his love of farming, his lifelong roots in Canby, and the quiet strength he brought to those around him. Jim took great pride in the appearance of his corn and soybean fields, especially the perfectly straight rows. His friends often joked that Jim was using GPS long before it was ever invented. Jim leaves behind a lasting legacy in the land he farmed, most importantly, in the family he loved. The fields he cared for, the places he traveled, and the memories he created with family and friends will remain a reminder of a life well lived.
Jim will be lovingly missed by his wife, Cheryl; his stepson, Sean (Jennifer) Huset, grandchildren Bennett and Lily, his daughter Diane (Steve) Sroka and grandchildren Tyler and Dustin. He also is survived by his brother Gene, special nephew Tim and special niece Kristi, as well as many other family and friends. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Margaret Ferguson, his beloved son Gary, his brother Dennis, niece Kathy and nephew John, sister-in-law Marie and his in-laws Steve and Jeanne Shupick.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jamie Borstad, Tim Ferguson, Josh Peterson, Dave Mercer, Curt Hoffman, Bryan Bursack and Butch DeVos. Jim’s combine/tractor buddy, snack manager and biggest fan, Bennett Huset, will proudly carry his Grandpa’s urn. Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. – Ecclesiastes 11:4
