Robert Wayne Rodgers was born in Sidney, MT on April 19, 1951 to parents Theodore "Ted" and Dorothy (Henderson) Rodgers. Robert was the eldest of 5 children. Robert grew up and attended schools in the Sidney area, starting at the Hardy School and then into town. While in junior high he often rode his bike to his grandma Helen's to eat lunch and play a quick game of cards. As he grew up he had a love for speed. He owned a speed boat and a fast barracuda. He was briefly married to Bonnie Feldman. Robert and his dad built the home they resided in.
Robert met and started dating Lucy Rindahl Sundheim during the summer of 1987. His dog, Bear, was very jealous of Robert's relationship with Lucy and would even jump up on the bed and lay on Lucy's side of the bed. Lucy had been gone for a few days to attend her daughter's college graduation and while she was gone, he decided he couldn't live without her and asked her to marry him. They were united in marriage on June 10, 1995 by Justice of the Peace, Greg Mohr, in his parents' yard. For many years they lived in Robert's trailer until he, Ron and Jess Marquardt built their current home.
Robert was a jack of all trades. He was a self-employed roofer and worked at Holly Sugar. He and Pee Wee Petty went to Richland, WA to do roofing. He has built large things like houses, barns, sheds, garages and decks and small things like magazine racks, steps, and games. He enjoyed working with his dad as a sand blaster and painter. He also worked for his cousin and friend, Kenny Olson plowing snow. He also worked for his aunt and uncle, Darlene and Dick Jonasen doing farm and ranch work as a teenager. Robert was also blessed with a lifelong best friend, Larry Swenson who has always been there for him in any situation or shenanigan.
Robert's nick name was Eagle eye. In the 1970's Larry had been given a keychain with a rock bit on it. He hadn't realized it was a 2 piece bit. One night he was with Robert in the pickup, he looked down and saw that half of it was missing. Robert asked where he had it last and Larry said by IGA (then Safeway). Robert drove there and spotted that tiny bit piece. Larry didn't believe him until he picked it up and showed him. Larry called him Eagle eye, and it stuck.
In Robert's spare time he enjoyed visiting with his friends and family, fishing, gardening, wood working, raising chickens and working on small engines. Robert also was a trapper and he took flying lessons. He thoroughly enjoyed being a professor and mentor to his cousin, Tod Henderson, teaching the "city boy" to raise chickens, garden and also repurposing kitchen cabinets into an island for Tod and Debbie's kitchen. Robert even gave Tod a written test and held a graduation ceremony for him so Tod could receive his diploma and graduate from Rodgers University with a degree in chicken shit management.
Anytime Tod, Wade, Brandon, Lucy or anyone offered to help him with a project he would refuse. He felt that if he couldn't do it for himself he shouldn't have it especially with the half acre garden. When he would grudgingly accept help in the last few months he would say "well that was easier". Robert was also a member of the Sidney Moose Club.
Robert lost his battle with COPD, passing away on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at Sidney Health Center.
Robert is survived by: his wife of 23 years, Lucy Rodgers; his mother, Dorothy Rodgers, Sidney, MT; brothers, Rolan (Susanne) Yuma, AZ and Brandan (Eran) Billings, MT; sisters, Collen Hager (Dave) Roanoke Rapids, NC and Valerie Schiff (Bob) of Billings, MT; step-children, Deb (Ed) Harvilak, Natasha (Steve) Rindahl-Winkle, Faron (Brandy) Sundheim all of Billings, MT and Jody Lizotte, Sidney, MT; 9 step grandchildren and 9 step great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by: his dad, Ted Rodgers; in-laws, Ted and Blanche Rindahl; grandparents; a niece, Tina Casares; and step- grandson, Anthony Montano.