Roger Smith

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Private family funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 4 at Church of St. Anne, 1321 Braman Ave, Bismarck.

A private family vigil service will be held 7 p.m. Wednesday at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 E Divide Ave, Bismarck. Though both services are private, those unable to attend are invited to watch the livestream of the vigil and funeral on the funeral home’s website, listed below.

A tribute video for Roger is posted below the obituary. Please view the video to share in Roger's life.

I was born on June 16, 1950 to Lawrence W. and Elizabeth “Betty” Smith and raised in Bismarck, North Dakota.

I subscribed to the Bismarck Tribune for all my adult life.

Each morning I would always go to part 2 of the newspaper the obituaries section.

My Sister always asked me why I did that...

I explained to Sis and others that asked that sadly I learned so much about someone upon their death.

I wanted to write this letter.... do this my way - since it is about me not someone else to sum up my life in a letter process so here goes...

I went to St. Anne's grade school - SMCHS - Bismarck Junior College then made a great decision to join the Navy.

Those years in the Navy were exceptional.

I was able to travel the world and experience things as I never dreamed as a kid from North Dakota.

My desire to travel continued after the Navy.

My Grandpa and Dad joined the military as young men as well and both were strong influences in my life.

If you did not call me or stop to see me over the  years then you were not current with my life.

I enjoyed many adventures...

By the creek in Montana in the fall - down south in the winter and back in North Dakota for many road trips throughout our great North Dakota and border states.

My Sis and Loren (best friend/brother) created so many memories in our travels and made many new friends along the way.

Loren always arranged in my travels for my favorite seat = 3C.

Governor Dalrymple set up a private guided tour for me to go back on the base in Key West, Florida, that I was stationed at as a young man.

To go back and remember being there as a young man and see all the changes however may things looked - seemed the same.

I am so proud to be a Navy Veteran representing North Dakota.

I was raised to be aware, humble and kind.

Over the years I donated 50+ gallons of blood.

Everyone needs someone to believe in them.

I had my Grandpa and Grandma - Mother and Dad and Loren and Sis (Donna) Through their consistent belief in me I believed in myself and had quite  wonderful adventures.

I always tried to stay with my base foundation as my religion and my belief in God.

Each morning I would swing my legs over the bed and say Good Morning Lord - show me the way today.

Kindness is a choice.

A choice we all have is to be kind.

Today - tomorrow - choose to use that power of being kind we all have.

Hold a door for someone - Say Please and Thank you - look someone in the eye - let someone go 1st ... Be Kind!

Senator Hoeven and Monica I thank you for your sincere kindness directly to me.

Your deep commitment to the Veterans of North Dakota means so much to all of us veterans.

I died on Jan. 28, 2021 at the Fargo VA Campus with my sister, Donna Coyle, and her husband, Loren, my best friend, at my side.