Dick Raymond Rogers, age 80, died on May 5, 2015 from natural causes at the Masonic Home of Montana in Helena. Dick was born in the town of Brockport, New York on February 1, 1935 – the third son born to Clara and Norman Rogers.
In 1938, when Dick was 3 years old, his father Norman packed up his family, his brother’s family, and all his mining equipment, put them on a train and moved to Montana, in pursuit of the promise of mining. After a few years of moving around Montana, the family settled in Rimini. Norman and his brother were mining for gold before the outbreak of WWII.
It was in Rimini where Dick and his brother Jack watched the Special Forces at Camp Rimini train teams of sled dogs in preparation for a winter military operation planned in Norway. Later, the plans scuttled, the military pulled out of Camp Rimini, and the family took care of some of the dogs left behind. The brothers often told stories of the fun and thrills they experienced working with powerful dogs pulling sleds in mountainous terrain as young boys.
In 1947, Norman bought the Broadwater Hotel property on Highway 12, on the west side of Helena, and moved his family onto the grounds. With this move, Dick entered into the Helena school system. Dick attended grade school at Kessler School, subsequently attending Helena Middle School. It was the first day at Helena Middle School when Dick had an embarrassing accident. Dick tripped and accidentally knocked down a girl named Lorraine Craighead. Lorraine was so unhappy with being knocked down she hit him on the head with her books! Neither of them knew at that moment how this event would change their lives.
As classmates, Dick and Lorraine continued on in school together, through Helena High School, then on to the University of Montana, becoming best of friends. This friendship grew into a great love and finally led to marriage. Dick married Lorraine Craighead on June 23, 1956, in the St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral Church of Helena. The couple made their home in Helena, where they raised two children – Marla Louise Rogers, and a son, Stanton Craighead Rogers.
In the early years, Dick worked for his father full-time in mining, construction and demolition. In 1961, Dick went to work for the Department of Highways (now called the Montana Department of Transportation), in the Department of Accounting. Dick later transferred to the Maintenance Bureau, where he was in charge of purchasing the equipment for all the maintenance shops across the state. That was his daytime job.
His moonlight job, as he called it, was working nights and weekends for his father, repairing equipment as a mechanic. Dick helped with moving buildings, and was involved in the demolition of buildings during the urban renewal days of Helena.
Dick was dedicated to his family, working very hard to provide for them the best he could. Dick supported his children’s endeavors as well. He helped out with the Boy Scouts for his son Stan, and the Campfire Girls for his daughter, Marla. He was proud of his children’s accomplishments and would often talk about them to people he met.
Dick was a member of the Morningstar #5 Masonic Lodge of Helena, Montana, an organization deeply rooted in family. Dick actively supported the Navy League, at one point serving as Region President. Dick was very good to his friends, always willing to help others in need, whether it meant helping move furniture, moving a safe, digging out basements by hand, or building driveways. You name it, big project or small, he was there to lend a hand.
Dick would stop and help if he saw someone having car trouble and stranded on the side of the road. He would open up his “bag of tricks”, as he called his suitcase of tools and random parts and hoses. He would often get them moving again with his skills and available parts and tools. Failing that, Dick would make sure that they got the vehicle to a shop, if more than minor repair was needed.
A hobby machinist, Dick would often spend days and weeks machining parts with care, to repair old equipment for which one could no longer get factory parts.
His favorite sayings – “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” and “You can tell a logger by his chips.” – were rooted in his fiercely deep work ethic and respect for hard work. Dick knew that if one is to get ahead in life, one has to work hard to do it. And Dick believed that any problem in life can be made simple by breaking it down into smaller parts to be easily solved. This was a wonderful philosophy to live by and a powerful legacy to pass on to his children and grandchildren.
Dick is preceded in death by his dearest wife, Lorraine Rogers, his brother Jerry Rogers (left behind in Brockport, New York), and his parents, Norman and Clara Rogers. Dick is survived by his son Stanton Rogers, daughter-in-law Cheri Rogers, grandsons Joseph Edwin Rogers (14), Francis Scot Rogers (11), daughter Marla Rogers and her friend Scott Colvin, his brother Jack Edward Rogers, nieces Victoria Pope, Patricia Marcil, Linda Kindrick and their husbands Richard Pope, and Jeff Kindrick, grandnieces Monica Marcil and Brenna Violett, grandnephews Andrew Marcil, Ricky Pope and Kevin Kindrick.
Donations in the name of Dick Rogers can be sent to the Masonic Home of Montana, 2010 Masonic Home Road, Helena, MT 59602, or to Rocky Mountain Hospice, 1075 N. Rodney, Suite 102, Helena, MT 59601.
The family of Dick Rogers would like to thank the Masonic Home of Montana, Rocky Mountain Hospice and Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home for the great care they have given to Dick in his last years here on earth.
A Celebration of Dick’s Life will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, June 5, 2015 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. with a social gathering to follow the service in the Banquet Hall of the Funeral Home.
Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Dick.
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
3:00 p.m.
Friday June 5, 2015
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Social Gathering
After the service
Friday June 5, 2015
Banquet Hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
3:00 p.m.
Friday June 5, 2015
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Social Gathering
After the service
Friday June 5, 2015
Banquet Hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
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Rusty Wrigg says
Sorry to here of the passing of a good friend and mentor, the
Linda Kindrick says
I am thankful for the good memories from childhood when our family (Jack, Sue, Vickie, Patty and Linda) went camping with Uncle Dick, Aunt Lorraine, cousins Marla and Stan – they had the big yellow ambulance and we had our homemade camper. Hot dogs, potato chips, hamburgers, walks, camp fires, games, “Pete and Repeat” stories, pulling Uncle Dick’s finger, rain, and laughter. Those were the days.
God bless those who go before us — until we meet again.
Bill Moore says
Great guy I worked at different parts houses during my carer and he visited me sometimes jenerally with a challenge of some sort
Wade and Jeannie Hodgson says
Dick was a blessing to my mother Alice Kraut for many years after his wife’s passing and before my mother’s death in 2007. I will always be grateful that my mother had a good friend and that they both had another chance at happiness before they left this earth. Rest in peace to a good and kind man!
Cindy Lee says
Marla, I am so sorry for your loss. May you know God’s Peace and comfort in this very sad time!
Allen Stenhjem Family says
Allen worked with Dick at Dept of Highways for many years God Bless ……………..
Margaret Woo says
Marla and Stan,
I am so sorry to read of your Dad’s passing. He was always such an exuberant and generous man, such a hard worker, and he loved his work. I enjoyed the times had with him. After I retired, we didn’t have any opportunities to see each other, since he lived so far away. But now that he is gone, I really miss him, as I know you do. My deepest sympathies to you all.
Margaret
Clare Ward-jenkins says
Dear Marla and Stan,
I am so sorry for your loss. Your dad was one of a kind and how he loved the two of you. I know you will miss his humor and spirit.
Love Clare
Caron (Kellogg) Smith says
Marla and Rogers Family,
I am sorry to hear of the passing of your father. May God wrap you in his love and presence during your time of mourning and beyond. Marla we sat next to each other in band and I never really got to know you. I am truly sorry for that. God Speed Dick R. Rogers until we all meet again.
Caron
Boyce Fowler says
As a Masonic Friend of Dick, I so admired him in providing care for Alice Kraft as her health
deteriated, but Dick was there to assist her when needed. He was such a great guy.
OLE JOHNSON says
Dick was always there to help, our thoughts and prayers are with you.