Roger died February 21, 2017, in his home in Bend, Oregon. He attended Easter Oregon College and graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Soil Science in 1973. Roger jumped at McCall 1971-73 to finance his college education. He worked as a soil scientist in Baker City, Klamath Falls, Medford and Bend.

Roger rounded out his career with wetland delineations and wildlife biology studies. After 35 years he retired and began Sage West, a soils consulting business.