Roger Duane Lewis

HAMILTON - On Thursday, March 6, 2020, Roger Duane Lewis passed away at the age of 77 following complications after surgery. During his last days, he found peace surrounded by his family.

Roger was born Aug. 9, 1942, in Monroe, Wis., to Glady “Fern” Ostrander and Granville George Lewis. He joined the Navy in 1962 and served our country with great honor. After his enlistment, he traveled west to Montana where his brother had settled.  Once in Montana, he met the love of his life, Ruth Hackney, and they were married Oct. 1, 1969. They raised three children together, Bret, Rena and Brandyn.

He worked hard to provide for his family from his days with Champion Sawmill, Darby Lumber and eventually retiring as the chief boiler operator at Rocky Mountain Lab.

Roger loved hunting and hiking in the Bitterroot. If he wasn’t trying to bugle an elk, he could probably be found napping under a tree waiting for the elk to come back. His love of Chevy’s developed into a passion for rebuilding old cars (most recently 1999 Chevy Blazers).

Family meant everything to Roger. He was proud of all of his children’s accomplishments and he “lit up” with the joy that his grandchildren brought him. His favorite family activity was camping with his wife and family.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Theodore Lewis and Patricia Haugo.  He is survived by his wife, Ruth, his three children, Bret Lewis (wife Deanna), Rena Hansen (husband Scott) and Brandyn Lewis (wife Michelle), and four grandchildren, Connor, Isabella, Baidyn and Hanna. He is also survived by three siblings, Carla Ufken, Jerry Lewis and Mary Jane “Janie” Pettit, along with many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held Friday, March 13, 2020 at the Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton at 2 o’clock p.m. with a reception following in the funeral home’s community room.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Charlos Heights Community Church or the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com. 

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