James Riley Armstrong, Sr. was a loving, humble, and hardworking father, grandfather, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin, and friend who left this world unexpectedly on August 13, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 72.

He was born on May 31, 1952, in Harrisonburg, Virginia, to James Heltzel Armstrong and Georgie Snyder Armstrong. He was their firstborn son.

Two years after his birth, his father left their "Eagles Nest" farm in West Virginia to pursue an education. Consequently, Jim lived in five different states and attended four different schools before his family settled in Orem, Utah, where he attended Orem High School and graduated in

1970.

Prior to serving in the California North Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he attended Utah Technical College, where he played on the school basketball team.

Following his mission, he worked in oil refineries and on oil rigs in Utah and Wyoming, which eventually led him to join the Reno Local 350 Steamfitters Union, where he apprenticed and became a journeyman. In 1979, Jim became a member of California's Local 342 Steamfitters Union in Concord, California, where he remained active throughout his life. During these years, he also studied and became a licensed general contractor and a licensed plumber.

He married Connie Graham on March 22, 1980. They were blessed with three beautiful sons. They resided in Reno, Nevada; Concord, California; and Las Vegas, Nevada. They divorced in 1994.

Jim traveled and lived throughout the United States as he pursued various job opportunities. In whatever capacity he worked, he was exceptional. He was known throughout his union for his excellent work ethic and skills. However, he considered his greatest accomplishment to be his children and grandchildren. In recent years, he restructured his life to give him more time to be with them and more opportunities to actively participate in their lives. He loved creating adventures, making memories, and treasured time spent with them. Being "Dad," "Grandpa," and "Papa Jim" was his greatest joy.

Jim was known for his loyalty, his big heart, and his generosity to others. He loved a good hard day's work, riding a John Deere tractor, the hills of West Virginia, fishing, sports, watching volleyball, basketball, and football games, preparing a good meal to share with others, and chess. But first and foremost, he loved his family, both immediate and extended. They were all in his orbit.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, John. He is survived by his three sons: James Riley, Jr. (Amy), John Dice (Samantha), Jack Andrew (Cristina), and his seven grandchildren: Blake, Addie, Sage, Ella, Evan, Maverick, and Asher.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at 1:00 pm in the Lehi 34th Ward Chapel, located at 1631 East 900 North in Lehi, Utah. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Orem City Cemetery, 1520 North 800 East, Orem, Utah.