Rogene Hergenrider

Rogene Hergenrider was born Dec. 9, 1949, on her family farm near Spirit Lake, Iowa. She passed away on May 19, 2017, at her home in Bridger. Rogene attended Spirit Lake schools. She was the third of four children born to Perry and Buleah Baines. Upon graduating high school, she received a degree in business and office management from Iowa Lakes College. She then was employed by John Morell Packing Company as a credit manager for their beef division.

Her dream was to marry a farmer. In 1975, she met her husband, Randy Hergenrider, a sugar beet, grain and livestock farmer from Belfry. They were married Nov. 27, 1976. She left the fertile black soil of Iowa and moved west to the brown, dusty fields of Montana.

Though she missed the Iowa rain, she loved being a farmer's wife: driving tractors, moving cattle, keeping books, but most of all driving beet truck, which she did every year except the year her oldest daughter was born. Rogene enjoyed being a homemaker. She was an exceptional cook and gardener. Rogene also spent a little time working off the farm. She was an interior designer for Home Interiors and later worked at West Fork Creations (the chocolate factory) and Cedar Wood Villa as a CNA.

Rogene's greatest joy came from her children and later her grandchildren. She was an especially patient person and had a special place in her heart for young children. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bridger, and taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Darlene; and brothers-in-law Gabby and Glen. She is survived by her husband, Randy; daughters Rhonda and Robbyn; and grandchildren Mandy and Shane, all of Belfry; sister Sarah Hanson of Fostoria, Iowa; brother Delmar (Carol) Baines of Spirit Lake, Iowa; and nephews, nieces and cousins.

A viewing will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave., in Billings. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 25, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bridger. Interment will follow in the Belfry Cemetery, then a luncheon at the church.