Roger Lee Frank

Frank, Roger Lee
Age 66

Scottsbluff, NE. Entered into rest Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at the Regional West Medical Center. Roger was born June 7, 1946 at Scottsbluff to Herman and Pauline (Schmick) Frank. He was baptized and confirmed in the Salem Congregational Church. At the age of ten, Roger started working. He delivered papers for the Star Herald, worked at the Midwest and Bluffs Theatres, the Carena Drive-In, and also worked for his parents at their Laundromat on west 27th St. He began work at Frank and Dill Implement, which was an Allis-Chalmers Dealership in Scottsbluff. Roger graduated from Scottsbluff High School in 1964, and attended Scottsbluff Junior College, and attended Hiram Scott College, also in Scottsbluff. In high school, Roger was a "roadie" with the Drivin' Dynamics Band, and later toured with the Eagles Band, and his friend Randy Meisner. Roger married Connie Lee Rystrom on February 11, 1967 at Scottsbluff. In 1957, Roger's father became the John Deere dealer in Scottsbluff. Roger began operating the dealership after his father died in 1973 when Roger was 26. At that time, Roger was the youngest John Deere dealer principal ever approved in the United States. In 1995, Roger expanded the dealership to include Torrington, Wyoming, and later Wheatland, Wyoming in 1999. Roger was still active in the business at the time of his death.
He was a lifetime member of the Salem Congregational Church and served as Deacon and Trustee. At Scottsbluff High School, Roger was an illustrator and photographer for the yearbook. He was a member of the Scottsbluff Elks Lodge, Chamber of Commerce, Cosmopolitan Club, Agri-business Committee, Farm and Ranch Museum involvement, and 4-H sponsor. Roger was voted the Star Herald's Citizen of the Year in 2013. He loved cooking, woodworking, art projects, camping, and traveling the United States to car shows and auto auctions. Roger developed commercial and residential real estate in Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Nevada. He was involved in the restoration and renovation of two historic buildings in downtown Scottsbluff, the Western Public Service building (the Powerhouse), and the Chiakos Brothers building. Roger also helped establish Scottsbluff businesses such as Walmart, Home Depot, Sears, and Sonic restaurants, to name a few. Roger also owned and operated Holiday Inn Express hotels in Scottsbluff and Torrington, Wyo. for over ten years. He was very involved in the Scotts Bluff County Fair and was a key member of the entertainment committee that brought major country acts to the region. His classic car collection is memorable, and his acts of generosity extended to the YMCA, Festival of Hope, Scottsbluff school district and youth activities. Most of all, Roger enjoyed spending time with and mentoring his family and grandchildren.
Roger is survived by his wife Connie Lee Frank of Scottsbluff; sons Jason Lee Frank of New York, New York, and Bryan Lee Frank and his wife Holly of Scottsbluff; daughter Alyssa Lee Frank of Scottsbluff; grandchildren Jackson Frank, Mitchell Frank, Lincoln Frank, Barrett Frank, Herman, Chevy, and Esprit; sisters Ruby Keller and her husband Gerald of Gering, Dorothy Steele of Scottsbluff, Cheryl Petrig and her husband Jim of Lincoln, and Debbie Potts of Fort Collins, Colorado; brother Richard Frank and his wife Dr. Irma Frank of McLean, Virginia; sisters-in-law Janice Hornbacher and her husband Harley of Mesa, Arizona and Marilyn Snyder and her husband Malcom of Denver, Colorado ; special aunts Mabel Fertil and Caroline and her husband Eldon Miller; and several nieces and nephews.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Marion Wood and Peggy Frank; father-in-law and mother-in-law Frank and Bernice Rystrom; brother-in-law Kenneth Steele, and Uncle Dick Fertil.
His FUNERAL SERVICE will be held Saturday, June 8, 2013 at 11am at the Salem Congregational Church in Scottsbluff with Pastor Dale Brown officiating. A private family burial will be held after the funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to the Church or the Festival of Hope. FRIENDS WHO WISH MAY CALL at the Jolliffe Funeral Home Friday from 10am until 4pm, and at the funeral. ROGER'S BIRTHDAY is this Friday, and the Frank family would like to celebrate this event by inviting all of Roger's friends to the Western Public Service Building (the Powerhouse) in downtown Scottsbluff anytime after 5pm Friday evening for birthday cake, pot luck dinner, and reminiscing. Friends who come to the Powerhouse may also bring an unwrapped child's gift to be donated to the Festival of Hope. Online condolences may be sent to www.jolliffefuneralhome.com
JOLLIFFE FUNERAL HOME
2104 Broadway, Scottsbluff, NE
(308) 632-2121