Roger Allan Curtiss

On November 8, 2018, Roger Allan Curtiss, 79, passed peacefully into the arms of his Savior, with his wife, Kathy, at his side. Roger was born in Coldwater, Michigan on October 17, 1939, the second of eight children born to Robert and Anise (Poling) Curtiss. Roger was raised in Coldwater where he attended school, graduating from Coldwater High School in 1958. He was a proud Coldwater Cardinal and well known for his strong athletic abilities in football, basketball and track. He continued lifelong friendships with special classmates from Coldwater. In 1959, he joined the U.S. Army and served as part of the 3rd Armored Division. This included a tour to Germany, after which he was honorably discharged in 1962. Roger moved west to Billings, Montana around 1969. In 1970, he married Cheryl Frank. They had three children: Allynne, Stacy and Brantley. They later divorced. On February 7, 1983, he married Kathleen Brademeyer Jensen, and became a blended family with Kathy and her three children, Mark, Lori and Donald. Together, Roger and Kathy shared almost 36 years of life’s positives and challenges. In April of 1979, he became a “friend of Bill W.” and began his journey into helping others afflicted by addiction. For the next 30 years he worked as a counselor and then as director in addiction treatment facilities throughout Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. Highlights of these years for him were, as Director at Alcohol and Drug Services of Gallatin County in Bozeman, MT, and his final position as CEO of The Walker Center, a large inpatient treatment facility, in Gooding, ID. He also felt great pride in his service as president of NAADAC (National Association for Addiction Professionals) from 2002-2004. Throughout his career, he received many recognitions, awards and accolades for his outstanding contributions to his profession. Upon retirement, in 2008, he found a new passion with golf. For the next 10 years he enjoyed the game, honed his skills and prided himself in making a “hole in one” on two separate occasions!He had great coffee conversations (decaf only please!) and many hours golfing with good buddies Wes, Will, Rick and John. Roger and Kathy felt especially blessed, having dear friends, Bill and Nancy Bowen, in their life. Roger is survived by his wife, Kathleen, Great Falls; his children, Allynne (Billy) Ellis, Billings, Stacy (Brian) Hein, Shepherd, Brantley (Chandala) Curtiss, Missoula, Mark (Carrie) Jensen, Power, Lori (Ron) Hagen, Boise, ID, and Donald (Nicki) Jensen, Great Falls; 10 grandchildren, whom he cherished and loved dearly, Andrew, Britney, Peyton, Abbie, Maggie, Dade, Jack, Matthew, Kellen and Liam; Aunt Gwen Tyler, Lakeland, FL, Sisters Nova (Joe) Fralick, Coldwater, MI, Paulette Curtiss, Green Valley, AZ, Merrie (Bill) Walsh, Murrieta, CA; brothers Craig Curtiss and Bobby (Marie) Curtiss, Cream Ridge, NJ; sister-in-law Marianne Curtiss, Australia and brother-in-law Darwin Wheet, Spostylvania, VA; and numerous special nieces and nephews. Roger is also survived by his wife’s family who were always very supportive of him, Carol (Richard) Worrel, (Darrell Brademeyer decd.), Phil (Monica) Brademeyer, and Shirley (James decd.) Brademeyer all of Oakes, ND, Clara (Jim) Davis, Ellensburg, WA, and Edith and Billy (Sharon) Brademeyer, all decd. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, brother Gerry Curtiss and sister Bonnie Wheet. At Roger’s request, cremation has taken place and no funeral services are planned. If you would like to remember Roger in a special way, memorials can be made in his name to Peace Hospice of Montana, P.O. Box 7008, Great Falls, MT 59406 or www.benefisfoundation.org; Great Falls Clinic Legacy Foundation, 3010 15th Avenue South, Great Falls, MT 59405 or www.gfclegacy.org/donate; Power Public Schools Fine Arts and Sports Programs, 402 Teton Avenue, Power, MT 59468. ROGER, YOU FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, YOU KEPT THE FAITH, AND YOU HAVE FINISHED THE RACE. YOUR FAMILY WILL ALWAYS LOVE AND CHERISH YOUR GENEROUS SPIRIT.