Roger B. Burtness
Roger B. (Bud) Burtness, age 84, died peacefully at Billings Health and Rehab Community on Wednesday, March 10, 2010, following complications of an injury that had occurred in early January.
He was born October 29, 1925, in Dale Minnesota, to the late Benjamin and Tillie Burtness of Billings. He graduated from high school in Cheyenne Wyoming in 1943. He entered the Navy in January 1944, was stationed in Bremerton Washington, and toured the pacific on the Fletcher-class destroyer the USS Hopewell. He was honorably discharged in May of 1946 as an electronic technicians mate.
After his discharge from the Navy he entered college and graduated from the University of Wyoming in Laramie Wyoming with a major in Mechanical Engineering in 1950.
In September of 1949 he married Lorraine Propp of Casper Wyoming. They moved to Billings in 1950 where he started his career with Trane Heating and Air conditioning as a district manager and sales engineer. They had a son, Bradley in 1957 but lost a daughter, Bonnie Sue in 1960 at birth. Roger and Lorraine divorced in 1980.
He married Florence Everson in Billings in 1982 where they shared many wonderful memories with her extended family and her three sons. Bud had many longtime and loyal friends from his 60 years in Billings, including his pot luck club, his poker club, and his cheating golf buddies.
Roger was a past president of the Billings Builders Exchange, the Billings Kiwanis Club and the Yellowstone Country Club. He was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Billings. He kept busy in later years researching his family tree and visiting his new granddaughter, who brought him immense joy. He loved being a grandpa.
Roger is survived by his wife Florence, his son Brad, Brad’s wife Olga, and their 3 year old daughter Brianna; his sister Carol, and her children, and the children of two of his sisters Peggy and Annabelle, who preceded him in death.
Memorial Service for Roger B. Burtness will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 18th, at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd at 1108 24th St W in Billings. Relatives and friends are welcome at the service. Pastor Jack Shannon will officiate. Burial will be held at the Mountview Cemetery in Billings.
We would like to thank all of the staff of Billings Health and Rehab Community and Rocky Mountain Hospice for the wonderful care they gave Roger.
Floral tributes may be sent to the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd and memorials may be sent to the charity of your choice.
Remembrances
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