Jimmie Lee Ashcraft

“We determine how we are remembered by the way we live our days.”

Jimmie L. Ashcraft, MD, known to many as Dr. A., was born April 28, 1948, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He was a 1966 graduate of Billings Senior High School. He was the first graduate from Eastern Montana College (MSUB) to graduate from a medical school. He received his medical degree from the University of Oregon Medical School in 1974.

Jimmie was an accomplished and highly respected Board-certified family physician for 52 years. He opened his solo medical practice, The Family Clinic in Sidney, MT in 1976. He was blessed to have a dedicated staff for the extent of his practice. For many years, he shared his vast medical knowledge with many generations of medical students and residents who participated in his practice. He served as the ambulance director for the Richland County Ambulance Service, training EMTs for over 25 years. He also served as the medical director of the Sidney Nursing Home. Jimmie was a Board member of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana for 10 years. He was also a member of the Montana Wyoming Foundation of Medical Care. Jimmie and his wife, Kay, established The Ashcraft Foundation, which provided scholarships and higher education opportunities for some of the 1752 babies he delivered during his time practicing medicine. Upon retiring to Billings, Jimmie “downloaded his hard drive” to the family medicine residents at Riverstone Health.

As an instrumental partner in many health and wellness projects in Sidney, such as the Sidney Fitness Center, the Sidney High School rubberized track, the softball fields at Water Tower Park and the Legion baseball field. Jimmie loved to help his community wherever he lived.

Jimmie loved to share stories, many of which can be found in the five books he authored, and copies distributed across the state of Montana. One of his favorite retirement hobbies was taking a walk and giving treats to the neighborhood dogs. He loved to read, especially about U.S. and world history, play golf, attend his grandchildren’s activities, and travel with his family and friends.

Jimmie passed away surrounded by the love of his family on January 15, 2026.

Jimmie is survived by his high school sweetheart and loving wife, Kay (Perlinski) Ashcraft; his children, Jennifer, Becky, and David (Bridget); his grandchildren, Garrett, Kendall, Rhianna, Owen, Isaac, and Ethan; his brothers Jay (Larrie), Johnny (Lynda), and Terry; his brothers-in law Jerry Perlinski (Carol) and Jim Perlinski (Jayne). He is preceded in death by his parents Claude and Rachel Ashcraft, in-laws Andy and Bernice Perlinski, granddaughter Alexandra Coad, and sister-in-law India Ashcraft.

For everything you taught us, we can never thank you enough.

Per Jimmie’s request, no services will be held.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to:

The Grotto - P.O. Box 20008. Portland, OR 97294-0008: The Grotto