Roger Heth

Westhope

Roger Heth passed away from a heart attack on Saturday February 22nd, 2025 while skiing in Whitefish Montana. He passed away doing something he loved, on a mountain he loved, with some of the people he loved most. His funeral services will be held on Saturday March 8th at 10 am at the Presbyterian Church in Westhope. He will be interned at the Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, ND March 10th at 1pm.

He was born to LeRoy and Marlene {Himle} Heth in Kenmare, ND. The first 9 years of his life were spent in Flaxton with his older brothers, Stanley and Steve, and his younger sister Robin. In September 1967, they moved to a family farm near Antler originally owned by his great grandpa, Ole E. Himle. Roger grew up helping his dad farm.He graduated from Westhope High School in the class of 1975. Roger followed in his father’s footsteps by joining the United States Marine Corps, and left for boot camp the summer of 1975. He graduated from boot camp in Parris Island, California with his cousin Jeff Aalund. He completed Armor School at Ft. Knox, KY and then served as a tank crewman/commander during his 4 year enlistment. He was stationed in Italy, Camp Lejeune, Okinawa Japan, and 29 Palms CA. He was honorably discharged in June 1979 as an E5. After returning to North Dakota he lived in Fargo shortly. In November 1981, he moved back to the family farm and soon started his own business, Range Roofing and Construction with his cousin Jerome Heth. A recruiter for the ND Army National Guard hounded him until he finally attended one drill in Bottineau. He joined in 1983 and served as a Combat Engineer. He met Valerie Huss in the Bottineau Engineer unit and they were married on August 20, 1988. In 2002 the family started raising pheasants and began the journey of Range Hunting Preserve. He retired from the NDNG June 1, 1999 with over 20 years of military service. Roger continued with the construction business until his death. He was especially proud of his restoration projects like the Antler Bank, Lilly House, Flaxton Armory, and Joann Buriak’s house. He never met a project too big to take on.

Roger and Valerie raised 5 children on the Heth farm. Roger never stopped remodeling and adding onto it. It stands as a testament to his amazing craftsmanship, vision, and wood working skills. He built, fixed, fabricated, and modified countless vehicles and machines over the course of his life. He always had 10 projects started, 2 tore apart in his shop, and 20 more planned. He loved museums, military history, antique stores, traveling, skiing, snorkeling, Halloween, MeTV shows, and YouTube tours of castles. He was known to be a fantastic dancer, artist, harmonica player, and marksman. He had an incredibly wide knowledge of facts and was rarely wrong when google fact checked by skeptics. He was the biggest personality in any room, a natural comedian, and was born to be a storyteller. He planted as many trees as he could on the Heth farm and was a proud winner of the 2014 Soil Conservation Award from the Mouse River Soil Conservation.

He was preceded in death by grandparents Ted and Allie Himle, Alfred and Edna Heth, Father LeRoy Heth, Niece Jenna Tolstad, and one grandchild. Mother in law Leona Huss. Uncles and Aunts Jerry Heth, Robert and Geri (Feland) Himle, Ronald and Jeanie (Himle) Aalund, Jeanette (Himle) Larson, Gordon (Buzzie) Himle and cousin Robbie Conway.

He is survived by his wife Valerie {Huss} Heth, children Tina {Drew} Dockter of Valley City, ND, Krystal {Kyle} Heidema of Belgrade, MT, Jonathan Heth of Minot, ND, Erik Heth of Westhope, ND, and Leah Heth of Antler, grandchildren Piper and Olivia Dockter, mother Marlene {Himle} Heth of Bottineau, ND, brothers and sister Stanley {Lavonne} of Paola, KS, Steven {Ginny} of Westhope, Robin {Dwight} Tolstad of Westhope, nephews Christopher {Tiffany} Heth of Minot, James {Holly} Heth of Hazen, ND, Aaron {Samantha} Heth of West Fargo, Devin {Kate} Tolstad of rural Landa, Preston {Heidi} Tolstad of Nevis MN, and niece Kristie {Robert} Chavez of Paola, KS. His father in-law Hillary Huss with sister-in-law Nichole {Clint} Batten (Huss) and brother-in-law Jim {DeeAnn} Huss; uncles, aunts and numerous cousins.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made to the Turtle Mountain Cancer Support Inc. of Bottineau, ND.

Arrangements were with Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau. Friends may sign the online register book at www.nerofuneralhome.net.

Published by The Minot Daily News, March 1, 2025.