Funeral Service: Thursday, January 6, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at the Congregational Church in Medicine Lake.
Interment: With military honors will follow a gathering of family and friends on Friday, January 7 at 2:00 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City, with burial at the Eastern Montana Veteran's Cemetery.
Roger Keith Schmitz, age 63, a lifelong farmer and rancher of rural Medicine Lake, Montana, passed away on Saturday, December 25, 2010, at the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he was receiving treatment for cancer.
Roger was born in Williston, North Dakota on November 6, 1947, to Doris and the late Joseph Schmitz. He attended school in Medicine Lake and after graduating, he studied diesel mechanics at the Denver Automotive Institute in Denver, Colorado.Roger enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and actively served during the Vietnam War. Roger served in the 3rd Marine Air Group as a Gunner on a Marine helicopter from 1968-1969, some of the toughest years of the Vietnam War. He returned home with lifelong memories of the war. Roger was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marines and made the decision not to re-enlist and instead made the choice to come back to Medicine Lake to farm and ranch with his father. Roger joined the Medicine Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and served in various posts, including Commander. In recent years, Rogers ties with fellow veterans grew stronger and he looked forward to spending as much time with them as possible because they shared a unique bond.
Roger married Charlene Rone'ss in 1971, and they have two sons, Daren and LeAlan. In addition to farming and ranching, they were active in 4-H, picking out steers and heifers from the herd, producing a few Grand Champions at the County Fair, and always making Grandpa Joe and Roger proud. Daren and LeAlan alongside their dad, rode many miles in the saddle during breeding season and working cattle throughout the years.
In 1996 Roger married Juanita Garrick. Juanita was raised on a farm and was more than happy to join Roger working on the farm and ranch. Roger had a good eye for cattle and in a recent conversation with Juanita, he said in regards to Curly, (the oldest bull in the herd) Ill sure hate to see the day that he goes. Juanitas two young daughters, Lanza and Leisha, were raised by Roger and were treated as if they were his own daughters. Some of their fondest memories are of Roger teaching them how to drive a manual car, teaching Leisha how to raise and show a Grand Champion 4-H steer, and even allowing Lanza to practice riding English style on Major, his cutting horse. Roger was an active amateur radio operator. His call sign was N7TGC.
Roger constructed and maintained numerous antennas that enabled him to make contacts with other hams across the globe and to check in daily on various amateur radio nets. Now N7TGC is a silent key.Roger was a member of Break Forth Bible Church of Glendive, Montana. He was so thankful that he knew Jesus as his Savior.
One of Rogers greatest joys was to ride his Harley-Davidson, Ultra Classic, motorcycle. He was a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association (CMA) and active in The Sprit Riders Miles City chapter. One of the highlights for Roger was attending the Montana CMA rally in Lewistown, Montana.
Roger is survived by his mother Doris of Plentywood, Montana. Roger is also survived by his wife Juanita of Medicine Lake, Montana; Rogers son Daren and Darens children Mallory, Melanie, and Phillip of Medicine Lake, Montana; Rogers son LeAlan and LeAlans daughter Mykel of Billings, Montana; Rogers step-daughter Lanza (Ian) and their children Jasmine and Josiah of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; and Rogers step-daughter Leisha (Lan) and their son Brendon of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Roger loved all of his grandchildren very much. Also surviving Roger are Rogers brothers Steve (Kathy), Larry (Lisa) and Richard, and several nephews and nieces. Roger was preceded in death by his father Joseph and by his sister Elizabeth.
Visitation will be held 1-7 p.m. Tuesday January 4, and Wednesday January 5, at Fulkerson's Funeral Home in Plentywood, MT. Funeral Service will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 6, at the Congregational Church in Medicine Lake. Interment with military honors will follow a gathering of family and friends held 2 p.m. Friday, January 7, at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City, with burial at the Eastern Montana Veteran's Cemetery.Condolences may be sent to the family at www.stevensonandsons.com. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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