Kenneth J. Rolle

Kenneth John Rolle passed away Monday afternoon, August 8, at the age of 93.

Ken was born Sept. 3, 1917, the first of four children, at his parents' home in East St. Louis, Ill. He attended St. Louis University and Colgate University and was commissioned by the Navy to Plattsburgh, N.Y., at the outset of WWII for training in Midshipmen's school. He served as a Midshipman with the Navy Amphibious Forces in the South Pacific.

Soon after the war, Ken met Marjorie (Logan) in San Francisco where Ken worked as a chemical engineer. Marj had been a WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilot) during WWII. Ken and Marj married and moved to Billings, Marj's hometown, in 1947. Ken joined his father-in-law, Dick Logan, in running the family ranch that sprawled across the top of the Rims and wrapped around the Billings airport, which Dick managed. Upon Dick's death in 1957, Ken became the airport manager until 1964. He then managed the John Wayne (Orange County, Calif.) airport and later, the Missoula County Airport until his retirement in 1975. The couple then returned to Billings and found their "acres of paradise" on Alkali Creek Road where they lived until their deaths.

Ken was a lifelong pilot and had an able co-pilot in Marj during the many years they flew their Beechcraft Bonanza. He was a captain in the Civil Air Patrol, a member of St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral in Billings and of the Elks.

In addition to his dear wife, Marj, who passed away in 2002, Ken was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lillian (Pohlmann) Rolle; sisters, Lorraine "Sis" (Rolle) Likos and Joanne (Rolle) Cooper; and brother, Armand Rolle.

He is survived by nephews John, James and William Likos, Dick and Mike Schindele, Greg, Jeff and Todd Curtis, Bill, Bob and Ken Turnquist; and nieces Anna Likos, Colleen (Cooper) Martin, Marilyn Schindele, Marci (Curtis) Eckerson, and Pam (Turnquist) Birkeland; and Dan and Margie Darkenwald, his closest and most cherished friends and neighbors of many years. He will be missed by friends living along Alkali Creek, at the airport, his fellow St. Patrick's parishioners and his longtime coffee crew.

Last fall, Sen. Jon Tester made the posthumous presentation of Marj's Congressional Medal to Ken at Logan International Airport for her service in WWII as a WASP. It was a time of fond remembrance of the contributions Ken, Marj and her parents had made to the Billings airport and to aviation over much of this past century.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Dan and Margie Darkenwald for their friendship, love and wonderful personal care they gave to Uncle Ken. The time spent with him meant the world to Uncle Ken. God bless you, Dan and Margie.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to the charity of your choice. Service will be held at St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral in Billings at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13. 

Ken Rolle