James Mergen was born at Chester, SD. He joined two brothers and five sisters. Jim lived with his parents, Arthur and Cecelia, and brothers and sisters on a farm north of Dell Rapids, SD until he left for the army.

Jim attended the first eight years of school at a country school called DeVaney School. He attended high school at St. Mary in Dell Rapids, SD. After graduating from high school in 1960, Jim entered the National Guard and spent six months in training. His National Guard unit was called to active duty in the summer of 1961 to serve during the Berlin and Cuban crises. He was released from duty the fall of 1962. Jim re-entered the 5043rd Army Reserve in 1975. He served in that unit as a Supply Sergeant until retirement in 1996.

Jim began his employment in the spring of 1963 as an Apprentice Lineman for Sioux Valley Electric in Colman, SD. In 1967 he took a job in northern Minnesota as a Transmission Lineman. Jim started working for the city of Sioux Falls Electrical Department in March 1971 as a Lineman. He was appointed Line Supervisor in 1977 and Electrical Superintendent in 1995.  Jim retired from his position with the city of Sioux Falls in October 2003. Jim has served on various committees and boards during his forty years of employment. He served on the South Dakota Electrical Council Board (SDEC) for seven years; SDEC Sioux Chapter, 30 years; Joint Utility Training School, 20 years (JUTS); and South Dakota Municipal Electrical Association, 30 years (SDMEA). As chairman, Jim organized the Safety Committee for SDMEA. He is serving as Co-Chair for the 2005 SDEC Annual Conference and he is treasurer of the Sioux Chapter. Jim has been a member of the Elks, American Legion, APWA. APPA, and St. Therese Church in Sioux Falls for thirty years. When the army asked for a volunteer to coordinate a Family Outreach Program, Jim accepted the position along with his wife, Cheri. The program organizes activities and various functions for the families of the U.S.Army Reserve. He served the Family Outreach for fifteen years. Jim was nominated Army Reservist of the Year in 1992.

In between all the organizations and committee service, Jim always has time to go fishing with his two sons and friends on the Missouri River.  If the fish are not biting, he enjoys walking a cornfield with his dog looking for ring necked pheasants. Jim and his wife Cheri live in Sioux Falls, SD. They have two sons, Todd and Troy. Todd and his wife Heather live in Sioux Falls where Todd is a civil engineer at HDR Engineering. Troy and his wife Marianne live in Brookings, SD where Troy is a senior at SDSU majoring in electrical engineering.