Roger D. French, 80

Roger D. French, 80, died Oct. 29, 2020, at Libby Care Center. He was born March 29, 1940, in Kalispell to Merle and Beth (Ricker) French, the youngest of four boys.

His youngest brother Gary couldn’t say “Roger,” so he gave him the nickname “Pudgie,” which stuck with him through high school. He attended Flathead schools and graduated from Flathead High School in 1958.

Roger enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served four years, stationed for most of that time in Reykjavik, Iceland. He was honorably discharged in 1962. He worked for Boeing in Seattle for one year before he returned to Montana to work at the mill in Libby. Roger married Sandi Hayes on June 8, 1963. They had three children, Kayley, Cindy and Kevin. They later divorced.

Roger worked at St. Regis Lumber Co. until 1993, except for a one-year stint as “The Culligan Man” in Kalispell. He managed the Park Apartments until he retired in 2005. He loved model trains, singing karaoke and visiting antique stores, and he tinkered around, making things like walking sticks.

Roger was preceded in death by both parents and beloved stepfather, Roy Edwards, and his brothers, Ellis, Marlin and Gary.

Survivors include his children Kayley Robertson (Jeff) of Libby; Cindy Parsons (Brad) of Gillette, Wyo.; and Kevin French (Sharla) of Rock Springs, Wyo.; 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and special friend, Donna Wright.

Services will be held in the spring of 2021. Memorials may be made to Libby Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1548 or the Libby American Legion Post 97.

Arrangements are by Schnackenberg Funeral Home of Libby. Online condolences and memorials may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.