James Rayner Kjeldsen was born in 1934 in California to James J. “Jens” and Vesta Kjeldsen. Rayner, as he was known throughout his life, passed away peacefully at the age of 82 surrounded by family at Renown Medical Center in Reno on July 26, 2017. Rayner grew up in Lovelock Nevada, first living in the manager’s house at the Friedman Ranch, which is the Lovelock Museum today, and then moving to the home on the family farm where he resided until his passing. He graduated from Pershing County High School and began attending college at the age of 16. He won the Herz Gold Medal upon graduation from the University of Nevada Reno with a Bachelor of Science. He then spent a couple months attending New York University, but came back west to California to finish his law degree at Stanford University after deciding the east coast was not for him. After law school, he returned to Reno and practiced law for several years. During this time, he met his wife, Barbara Rosborough. They were married on April 28, 1963. In 1975, he left the law firm of Vargas, Bartlett & Dixon, and returned to Lovelock with his family to farm on the family homestead. Though he continued to practice law as defense counsel in Lovelock, he always said that farming was his true passion. For many years, he owned two ranches and often held up local traffic in town by running his tractors between the ranches. His summer days started early, usually going out to bale hay before heading into court, then returning to irrigate and cut hay. If rain threatened to pour, he could occasionally be found on the baler in his suit fresh from a court hearing. Sometimes, he even appeared in court in his work blue jeans after running in from the fields. Also notorious were his Stetson-style hats: the white hat if he was coming into court to play the good guy, and the black hat if he was feeling rambunctious and prepared for a fight. He took a position as Deputy State Public Defender for the State of Nevada while he continued to farm. After he retired from the state, he continued to consult for the law firm of Belanger & Plimpton right up until his passing. He was a 61-year member and Past Master of Humboldt Lodge #27 F.&A.M. He had also been a member of Ruth Chapter 11 O.E.S. When he wasn’t out farming or practicing law, he could often be found out tending his gardening, going out for coffee, hunting, reading, or taking his dogs for a run. He is survived by his children: Dawn Blair and James (Auriel) Kjeldsen, and his grandchildren: Adrian Blair, Kevin Blair, Rylan Kjeldsen, and Reid Kjeldsen. He is preceded in death by his wife Barbara Kjeldsen, his parents, a stillborn brother William Rupert Ross Kjeldsen, and many of his beloved dogs.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to:
Nile Valley FFA c/o Pershing County High School, P.O. Box 990, Lovelock, NV 89419,
Pershing County Humane Society, P.O. Box 383, Lovelock, NV 89419, or
Pershing County Library, P.O. Box 781, Lovelock, NV 89419
A “Come Out for Coffee” service will be held at the Lovelock Community Center on August 26 at 10am. Please bring your memories and stories to share.
