David McMurchie

David McMurchie

This photo was taken not that long before Roger's death.  We always got together when I was back visiting my folks.  Our friendship goes back to Grade School at Rimrock.  He was always into cars and did great work, always a perfectionist in whatever he chose to do.  He lived life on his own terms to the end.  

George Ryan

Thanks Dave for posting this picture.  I caught the sports car bug for a while from Roger.  He was a great guy!

Jim Hopper

Yes thanks Dave. We all had some good times together at Bozeman didn't we?

Dennis Radtke

Nice to have that picture.  The last time I saw Roger was with you, Dave when we practically forced him to meet with us.  That was a nice get together, Roger seemed to realize that even many years and various levels of "success" the friendship we have is what really matters.

Doug Jenkins

I have considered for weeks what to write about Roger Deitz.  We were close, and I had the privilege of giving the eulogy at his funeral.  Roger was an enigma; the front door to his shop read "Welcome, Keep Out".  He strove for perfection in his work, and he serviced such marques as Lamborghini, Ferrari, Dick Hager's (Mary Ann's brother) racing Alfa Romeo and his 427 Ford Cobra, and other exotics. He subscribed to "Scientific American" until his death, and we often got into discussions about physics, chemistry, or something one or the other of us had read.  But Roger would agree that he was destructive in his personal life, and his habits were ultimately his undoing.  We enjoyed the highest of highs, such as the time, with his help, my Ferrari won the Preservation Award in a field of 900 Ferraris during Pebble Beach weekend.  But the lows were hard, and I accused him often of being a modern day Icarus, seeing how close he could fly to the sun without melting his wings. Finally, he flew too close.  It's been over ten years, and I still miss him.  

Kim Nybo (Gambish)

 Beautiful. Doug. Thanks. xxoo

Marla Connor (Davenport)

Roger was a great and brilliant friend. I still miss seeing him on trips to Billings.  We used to take his current favorite car on rides (sometimes scary) along the Zimmerman Trail.  His favorite response to my stories was "that's typical!"  He certainly wasn't typical. That challenged me not to be "typical" in my life choices as well. 

Merry Steffensen (Wottawah)

Roger and I were in Mrs. Acheson’s 5^th grade class at New Rimrock School. For Valentine’s Day, Roger brought a very exquisitely decorated mailbox.  One day, I put a valentine picturing a hippo in the box with the caption, “You go over big with me!”   I was watching as Roger opened the card, read it and frowned. He looked up and saw me giggling.  It was cruel of me, but from then on, we became friends.  I   always made a point of visiting Roger and his cool Mom Florence when I was in Billings to see my family.  Florence took great delight and interest in all of Roger’s friends from high school and shared information and pictures while we were drinking tea out of her Irish China cups.  She called me “kid” as she probably did with all of you who visited her ,

Roger also took me for rides in one of his cars, and we had some great talks.  The last time I saw Roger was two years before he died.  I asked him to drive me to Red Lodge to revive some old memories. He obliged and I reciprocated by inviting him out for dinner in Fishtail on the way home.  It was a beautiful day to say goodbye to an old friend.  Little did I know that it would be the last time I saw him.

Roger deserved a better life than he had.  He sacrificed his career to take over the family business and medical bills incurred by his father’s untimely death.  The prosperous marriage and family life he dreamed of didn’t happen.  Roger had a big heart and was a caring friend.  He really did “go over big with me!’

Susan Armstrong (Woodahl)

Merry, I had forgotten that Florence called us all "kid."  I can just hear her now!  She and my mother were good friends!  I too would visit Florence and Roger when home from college!  Roger was a good friend, he died too young, and he will always be missed!