NO. 17609 • 22 Nov1926-26 Mar 2007
Died in Missoula, MT
Interred in Greenwood Cemetery, Park Rapids, MN
Roger Charles Lind was born in Park Rapids, MN, on 22 Nov 1926 to Charles T. and Grace T. Lind. He had one brother, James F. Lind. In Park Rapids, Roger became an avid sportsman, participating in local sports and learning to hunt and fish. After graduat-ing from high school in 1944, Roger joined the Army as a private. He was awarded the Victory and Good Conduct Medals. From June 1944 to March 1946, he attended South Dakota State College, Cornell University, and Amherst College.
In 1946, Roger was appointed to West Point by Congressman Harold Knudson of Minnesota. While there, he participated in hockey and football, as well as the choir and the Spanish, Glee, and Ski Clubs. Roger stud-ied civil engineering and obtained his bach-elor of science degree in 1950. After gradua-tion, he was assigned to Battery C of the Field Artillery group, 82d Airborne Division, at Ft. Bragg, NC.
There Roger met Mary George Cline of Atl anta, GA, a Red Cross social worker, and they married in December 1951. In June 1952, Roger sustained permanent damage to his left knee in an athletic accident at Ft. Bragg. This injury would plague him the rest of his life. After the injury, he was assigned to the IG section of the 82d Airborne Division in October 1952. Their first child, Roger C. "Chip" Lind, Jr., was born in 1953 at Ft. Bragg. RogerÕs knee injury led to his resigna-tion from the Army as a 1st lieutenant in 1954 to further his career in civil engineering.
Roger then moved his family to Atlanta, where he attended the Georgia Institute of Technology and specialized in geotechnical engineering. He earned his Master of Science degree in civil engineering in 1956. After grad-uation, Roger moved his family to Houston, where he joined McClelland Engineers, Inc. He and Mary were then blessed with their second child, Teresa Howard Lind. In 1959, his employer moved him to New Orleans to open a branch office. Their third child, Jack Cline Lind, was born there in 1960.
In 1961, Roger moved his family again, to Jackson, MS, where he started Ware Lind Engineers, Inc. with Georgia Tech classmate Edwin Ware. Their firm specialized in geo-technical engineering, providing engineering services to the Southern states. Roger's fourth child, James F. "Marty" Lind II, was born in Mississippi in 1963. Roger continued his engineering career in Jackson until his even-tual retirement in 1988. During his career, he engineered numerous buildings, roads and bridges, dams, and other structures. He became well known and respected for his ca-pabilities. Roger served as President for Ware Lind Engineers, President of the Mississippi Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and President of the Mississippi Engineering Society.
Roger's roots in Park Rapids were very im-portant to him. He often returned there on vacation with his family, visiting his parents and friends and enjoying the "Great North Woods." Roger's father had taught him to en-joy and respect the outdoors, a trait he would share and pass on to his family. He spent many days fishing, hunting and camping with family and friends from Minnesota to Mississippi to Alaska. Roger was a true out-doorsman and knew how to enjoy the won-ders of God Ôs creations.
In the 1970s, Roger had an authentic log cabin built on several acres of land outside of Park Rapids. The logs were cut directly off the land and the rocks for the fireplace were obtained from nearby lakes. His plan was to spend part of the year at this cabin after re-tirement. Over the years, this cabin became a focal point for family gatherings, a location for friends to visit, and the starting point for fishing and hunting expeditions to Canada.
As a result of a medical condition Mary had, Roger retired in 1988. The two of them then traveled, visiting friends and family while living in Jackson and Park Rapids. As Mary's condition worsened, Roger built a new home in Tampa, FL. He moved Mary there to be close to their daughter. In 1999, while in Tampa, Mary passed away. She was buried in Park Rapids, MN.
Roger remained in Tampa and became reacquainted with Lynne Ries of Hamilton, MT, whom both Roger and Mary had known in Jackson. They spent time together remembering their spouses and the time they all had spent together in Jackson. Roger and Lynne realized they had a lot in common and much to share, so they eventually married. Roger moved to Montana, and he and Lynne purchased a small ranch in Stevensville to raise Arabian horses ... a passion of Roger's for many years. This ranch was nestled in the Bitterroot Valley looking onto the Bitterroot Mountains. Roger spent the remainder of his life there with Lynne, raising and enjoy-ing his horses, sharing stories with family and friends, and expanding his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Roger devoted his entire life to the Lord and to his belief and faith in his savior Jesus Christ. He spent many hours teaching Sunday school, attending church, and reading his bi-ble. He was very open and sincere about his religious beliefs and willing to share his faith with anyone who would listen to him. Roger passed away on 26 Mar 2007 in Missoula, MT, after a long bout with diabe-tes-related problems. His body was interred at Greenwood Cemetery in Park Rapids along-side his first wife, Mary.
Roger left behind his wife Lynne and children: Dr. Roger C. "Chip" Lind, Jr. of Tennessee, Teresa L. Davis of Florida, Jack C. Lind of Texas, James F. "Marry" Lind II of Mississippi, and Mary Lind-Horwitz of Montana, as well as Lynne's children: Ron Ries of Wisconsin and Mark Ries of Montana. He also left behind ten grandchil-dren and two great-grandchildren. Although he has departed this life, he has rejoined his deceased friends and family, including two grandsons, Conner Lind and Tyler Lind.
Roger and his stories and poems will be missed around the campfire but never forgotten!
- Jack C. Lind, son