Billie Rogers, 79

Billie "Bill" Carl Rogers, age 79, passed away peacefully March 19 at his home in Charlo.

Bill was born on Jan. 8, 1946, in Stuart, Okla., to William Jesse Rogers and Margaret Shirley. After finishing high school, he eventually joined the Navy, where he was a dedicated Navy man serving in the SeaBees.

He lived many places over his long career. He did two tours of Vietnam, before retiring with 24 years of service as an E-7. Following his retirement, he and his wife, Clare Courville, moved back to the Flathead Reservation, where he was a teacher at the Kicking Horse Job Corps. He worked for various contractors, until he accepted a position as a volunteer Tribal Veterans Representative with the Veterans Administrative.

Bill was a proud Okie and member of the Choctaw Nation and officer for the Veterans Warrior Society.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Clare Yvonne Courville, and his second wife, Mary Jean Burland.

Bill is survived by children Mary Rogers, Jason Rogers, Wes Miljies, Jolene Burland, Wayne Burland, Will Burland and Wade Burland; brothers Thomas Rogers and Hugh Rogers; sister Shirley Sumner; nieces Jessica Rodriguez, Mary Sumner and Rebecca Aryal; and numerous cousins, nephews and extended family.