Roland Meyer, 85

Roland "Rollie" Frances Meyer, 85, of Whitefish, died on June 18, at his home, from a tragic fall while tending the roses and flowerbeds he loved.

Rollie was born Aug. 29, 1940, on the family farm near Lostwood, North Dakota, the 13th of Bernard and Anna Belle Meyer's 16 children — eight boys and eight girls. After his father's death in 1944, Rollie spent his early years on the farm and in Stanley, North Dakota. While still young boys, he and his younger brother Lawrence moved to Whitefish, where they were raised by their oldest brother, Bernard and his wife, Betty, and grew up alongside their children, Brenda, Becky and Bruce.

During high school, Rollie and Lawrence traveled to Iowa to visit their mother and siblings, meeting many of their 69 nieces and nephews. Rollie often said it was one of the favorite summers of his life.

In 1960, Rollie graduated from Whitefish High School as the first Meyer son to earn a high school diploma. That July, he joined the United States Air Force, serving as a military policeman in Alaska and Wyoming until 1964, and received an honorable discharge in July 1966.

Rollie had worked summers for the Great Northern Railroad during high school, and he returned to the railroad to build his career as a signal maintainer. While working in Wenatchee, Washington, he met and married Roberta "Bobbie" Zufall, and together they raised three children: Troy, Cory and Tina. The family lived in several Montana communities before settling back in Whitefish in 1978. Rollie and Bobbie later divorced.

Rollie retired from BNSF Railway in 1997 and stayed in Whitefish, where he made the most of every day of retirement. He loved woodworking, gardening, mowing, planting flowers, dancing and eating out. He traveled to visit family and friends, took an Alaskan cruise, and toured Dollywood with his dear friend Leon Nuniz. He delighted in hosting visitors and proudly showing them Glacier National Park and the National Bison Range.

He loved to 'kick butt' at cribbage, Scrabble, Yahtzee and dominoes; he never missed a family potluck (usually arriving early, much to the host's chagrin) and never backed down from a spirited debate. He stayed closely connected with classmates, railroad friends and extended family.

Farm life gave Rollie skills and hobbies that lasted a lifetime. The Meyers were a musical family, and Rollie played the harmonica by ear and loved to sing. He fished and tied his own flies, hunted, camped, picked huckleberries, cared for animals and birds, drove nearly every back road in Montana, and knew how to simply sit and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Family history mattered deeply to Rollie. He loved genealogy and helped organize the last Meyer family reunion in 2024. In recent years, he was working with his daughter toward Irish citizenship by descent after learning more about his grandparents and their heritage. He urged younger generations to know their relatives and to preserve the family story.

Rollie is survived by his son, Troy Meyer and wife, Kristen of Otis Orchards, Washington, and grandchildren Kalei, Addison, Jordan and Claire; his son, Cory Meyer and wife, Lisa of Spokane Valley, Washington, and grandchildren Noelan, Aidan, and McKenna; and his daughter Tina Meyer of Whitefish. He is also survived by his last two siblings, Juanita Quibell (Bill) of Waterloo, Iowa, and Sandy Scribner (Jim) of Evansdale, Iowa; many nieces and nephews and hundreds of great-nieces and great-nephews; lifelong friends Glen England and Leon Nuniz, among others; and his beloved dogs, Marty and Missy.

Rollie was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Anna Belle Meyer; his brothers, Bernard, Theodore, Robert, David, LaVern "Skeeter," Gerald, and Lawrence; his sisters Margaret, Doris, Berniece, LaVonne, Jean, and Laureda; and several beloved nieces and nephews.

Rollie was blessed with wonderful neighbors and friends throughout his 48 years in Whitefish, including the Dickmans and the Dales, as well as newer neighbors Nicole, Ray and Donna, who helped him during his last several years. The family is also grateful for the care and friendship of his VA caregivers, Virgil and Em and of Meals on Wheels.

Those who knew Rollie will remember his quick wit, his fierce loyalty, his competitive spirit, his love of family and his heart of gold.

Our world will especially miss his banter, stories and late-night calls.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Aug.15, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Moose Lodge in Whitefish.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Northwest Montana Veterans Stand Down and Food Pantry.