John Charles Rollman

1944 - 2025

John Charles Rollman

September 12, 1944 - April 20, 2025

John Charles Rollman, passed away peacefully on Easter morning, April 20, 2025, after a prolonged illness. He was born on September 12, 1944, to Paul & Ann Rollman in Butte, Montana.

John attended local grade schools before graduating from Butte High School in 1963, where he excelled in football. Following high school, he attended Barber College & went on to serve in the Naval Reserve. He was honorably discharged. John worked as a barber with his dad at The Family Barber Shop on Harrison Ave. It was just the beginning of his lifelong passion for helping others.

While working as a barber, John attended Montana State University & later transferred to Eastern Montana College, where he continued playing football. In his spare time, he gave haircuts to his dorm mates for beer money. In 1969, John earned his BS in Secondary Education & a master's degree in Special Education in 1971. He met Charlene Keenan while attending college. They married in 1973 & eventually divorced but reconnected later in life & remained close friends until his death.

John's professional career was dedicated to education. In 1971 he worked at Eastern Montana College as the EMC Coordinator of Events for one year, before beginning his long career with the Billings School District. He taught at Garfield Elementary School & later Billings Senior High School, where he became the Special Education Work Study Teacher. In this role, John taught many students essential work skills, particularly at local McDonald's restaurants, helping them transition into the workforce after graduation. John was deeply involved with Montana Special Olympics, where he served as the Montana Director in 1975. That year, he helped bring Eunice Kennedy, one of the founders of The Special Olympics, to Montana as the keynote speaker to open the state games. After retiring from teaching in 1984, John remained an advocate for people with disabilities & cherished the relationships he built with his students.

John entered the restaurant business with his close friend Noel Meisner 1984, He owned & operated Fuddruckers in Billings & partnered in others across the state. John continued his passion for the disabled & employed many at his restaurant.

In 2004, John retired & returned to his hometown Butte, in 2019 for good. He enjoyed training his black lab Bodie & riding his horse Bucky. He was an avid hunter, John spent countless hours enjoying the Montana outdoors, taking rides & visiting local business in town.

In his final years, John bravely battled dementia with his family at his side, yet he never lost his sense of humor, compassion, or deep love for life. Though his body remained strong, his mind gradually slipped away. Still, his spirit shined brightly until the very end.

Preceded in death by his parents Paul & Ann Rollman, sisters Maridoe (Tommy) Davies, Paulette Rollman, brother-in-law Lee Conroy & aunt & uncle Pauline & George Winninghoff.

Surviving Relatives: sister Cathy Conroy (WA), nieces Mary Ann Hackman, Joann (Gary) Bracco, Diann (Andrew) Brinig, the Conroy's & Perry's (WA), the Pacini's (NV), the Lawrence's (NV & TX), the Bessert's (ID), & cousins Rosie (Ron) Olson, Phil Winninghoff.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the team at The Springs of Butte & Honeybee Hospice for their outstanding care & support during John's final days. We will be forever grateful.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Special Olympics, Shriner's Hospitals, or Our Lady of the Rockies.

John's legacy will live on through the many lives he touched throughout his life. May he rest in peace.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.