Vigil Service: Wednesday, December 3, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. in the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City
Funeral Mass: Thursday, December 4, 2003 at 1:00 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City.
Interment: Calvary Cemetery with full military honors
Staff Sergeant Christopher Robert Rodgers, age 26, of Mountain Home, Idaho, formerly of Miles City, Montana passed away on Wednesday, November 26, 2003.
Christopher was born in Miles City, Montana on August 15, 1977, the son of Derrick and Karleen (Leidholt) Rodgers. He attended school through the 8th grade at the Sacred Heart School and graduated Cum Laude from Custer County High School in 1995. Entered into the Air Force on 11 Oct 1995 and attended basic training at Lackland AFB TX. He graduated from Basic Training on December of 1995. He attended Technical Training at Sheppard AFB TX for F-15 Avionics Electronics and graduated in July of 1996. Upon completion of technical training he received orders to RAF Lackenheath UK. SSgt Rodgers served with the 48th Component Repair Squadron at RAF Lakenheath from August of 1996 until April of 2001. He received the Air Force Achievement Medal for meritorious service during the first three years at RAF Lakenheath. He was also named as the 48th CRS Maintainer of the Month for December of 1996 and February of 1997. He was also named Top Performer for February of 1999 and was Maintainer of the Quarter Jan-Mar 1999. He served in support of OPERATION ALLIED FORCE from 24 Mar 1999 to 10 June 1999 and received the Air Force Achievement Medal. Upon completion of his tour at RAF Lakenheath he again received the Air Force Achievement Medal for meritorious service (27 Aug 1999 20 May 2001). He requested cross training into the Communications-Computer Systems Controller career field and left RAF Lakenheath UK in April of 2001 and was assigned to Mountain Home AFB ID while awaiting technical training.
SSgt Rodgers was assigned to the 366th Communications Squadron at Mountain Home AFB ID and attended technical training at Koesler AFB MS for Communications Computer Systems Controller. He completed technical training at Koesler AFB in September of 2001 and finished in the top 10% in his class. SSgt Rodgers attended airman Leadership School at Mountain Home AFB ID and completed training in November of 2001 and was in the top 15% in his class. He worked at the 366th Communication Squadron until being reassigned to the 726th Air Control Squadron in March of 2002. He participated in Homeland Defense in support of OPERATION NOBLE EAGLE after September 11, 2001. He was deployed with the 726th ACS to Kuwait in support of OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM in May of 2002 and returned in September of 2002. During this deployment, he led his work center to three Superior Maintenance Team awards. SSgt Rodgers was awarded three Air Force Achievement Medals, three Outstanding Unit Awards, two Good Conduct medals, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
SSgt Rodgers had also earned his Associated degree in Avionics Systems Technology through the Community College of the Air Force. Christopher was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. While in high school, he was active in golf, track and Key Club. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, water and snow skiing, bike riding, and working with his computer and just having fun with his family and friends.
Christopher is survived by his parents, Derrick and Karleen Rodgers of Miles City, MT; a brother, Dustin Rodgers of Las Vegas, NV; his grandparents: Leonard and Pauline Leidholt of Miles City, MT; and Alma Rodgers Bergerson Sr. of Billings, MT; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather Robert Rodgers, step grandfather Bruce Bergerson, and two cousins: Paul Hazelton Jr. and Ivan Beretta.
Family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 3, 2004 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. A Vigil service will be held on Wednesday, December 3, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. in the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2003 at 1:00 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Calvary Cemetery with full military honors. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Miles Community College Christopher Rodgers Scholarship Fund, and can be sent in care of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home. 1717 Main, Miles City, MT 59301.
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