Obituary
Rare is the man whose pathways allow so many opportunities to impact a myriad of people in such positive and powerful ways. Roger L. Craft was such an individual. With his core values permanently in place, even the storms of his life couldn’t shake this gentle giant.
He was born in Garden City, Kansas to DeWitt and Kathleen (Riley) Craft on May 30, 1934, spending much of his adolescence working on the family farm, establishing a work ethic that would remain with him throughout his years. The Christmas Eve fire of 1938 was largely transformational, claiming the lives of his mother and two brothers. This tragic event cemented a family bond and adherence to faith in God which proved to be his foundation.
His schooling was wholly completed in Garden City, Kansas, graduating from Garden City Senior High School in 1951. After graduation, he ventured east to Manhattan, Kansas to attend Kansas State College of Agriculture. While there, he met the love of his life, Norma Jeanne Mase, on a blind date spent on Bluemont Hill playing “the cup game” with another couple. Roger and Norma, Sigma Phi Epsilon’s “King and Queen of Hearts,” were fortunate to celebrate 69 years of marriage on September 1 of this year. While earning a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education at the institution which would later become Kansas State University, he was voted Favorite Man on Campus, and otherwise left his mark with his 6’8” frame dressed out in a #44 basketball jersey. His coaches, Jack Gardner, Tex Winter, and fans, will remember his iconic hook shot. He would follow his undergrad experience in the same location, serving as a Graduate Assistant Basketball coach while attending classes. This experience established a teaching prowess that would serve him well in future educational and coaching positions in Kansas and beyond, when more classwork resulted in a master’s degree in economics from Montana State University.
This man, whose quiet integrity passed beyond his own life, fashioned a lasting model of fatherhood which began in Kingman, Kansas, where his eldest daughter Laurie was born, and where he added Eldorado Junior College to his teaching and coaching resume. In the mountains of Montana, their family would be complete by 1966 with the addition of two more “shooters” (Les and Derron, the youngest) and one more “rooter” (Marcia). The Bozeman journey and affiliation with Montana State College began in 1960. For the next 60 years, it would be their home. Utilizing his prior experience from Kansas teaching math and coaching football, track and basketball in new, but similar positions, it was only two years before he was named the Head Basketball Coach at the institution which would four years later be called Montana State University. Under his leadership from 1962-1969, his team won two league championships, and he was named Coach of the Year in 1964. He regained national prominence when he took his 1966-67 team to, and won, the All-College Tournament in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
It was during his coaching tenure that he took advantage of opportunities to speak at conventions, banquets and alumni meetings all over Montana, Idaho, Washington and Wyoming, and headlined for various coaching clinics and basketball camps. Lucky were those in attendance at the commencement addresses of twenty-plus Montana high schools during this period in which he imparted his life philosophy in a jovial and often humorous manner. A proud moment for Roger and his family occurred in 2005 when he was inducted as a coach into the Montana State University Hall of Fame.
In 1970 he went into private business, joining an economic consulting firm to develop business feasibility studies. It was a springboard to redevelopment of three historic buildings, the Bozeman, Baxter, and Placer Hotels. Always an optimist and visionary, he served 13 years on the Bozeman City-County Planning Board and was appointed by the mayor to study and revise planning and zoning regulations, a monumental task he saw as crucial for the growth he presciently predicted for a soon-to-boom Bozeman. His last endeavor was as a licensed Real Estate Broker for Heart of Montana, a profession he would enjoy until he was 80 years of age.
Throughout his time in Montana, he made time to serve his country, community, and beyond as Physical Fitness & Recreation Director for the Peace Corps in Bozeman and Mexico for three years, serving as a staff member at seven Fellowship of Christian Athletes Conferences, as a 60 year member of the Bozeman Kiwanis Club, serving twice as President, twice as Lieutenant Governor of the Montana District, four years as President of the Montana Kiwanis District Foundation Board of Directors, and perennial awards as the top fundraiser for their annual pancake breakfast. Additionally, he was a lifetime member of the Bozeman United Methodist Church.
His life ended peacefully on September 8, 2024, in Lee’s Summit, Missouri after an extended illness, where he and his bride had moved three years earlier to be near their daughters. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by brothers – John, Dave and Rufus Craft, and sister – Helen Biederwell. He is survived by his wife of 69 years – Norma Craft, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, his sisters – Marjory James, Dighton, Kansas and Carol Hodgkinson, Garden City, Kansas, children – Laurie (John) Shadoan, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Les (Susie) Craft, St. Petersburg, Florida, Marcia (Chris) Ziglinski, Kansas City, Missouri, Derron (Tammi) Craft, Seattle, Washington, grandchildren – Chelsea (fiancé Logan Jones), St. Petersburg, Florida, Samuel (Madi) Ziglinski, Thessaloniki, Greece, Hannah (Evan) Degnan, Gladstone, Missouri, Luke Ziglinski, Bozeman, Montana, Isaac Ziglinski, Overland Park, Kansas, Eli (Ruth) Ziglinski, Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania, Ellie Ziglinski, Lander, Wyoming, and great grandchild – Cordelia Ziglinski, Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania.
A celebration of Roger’s life will be held at 10:00am Saturday, October 5, 2024, in the chapel of The Summit Church, located at 3381 NW Chipman Rd, Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Lunch will follow the service at John Knox Village Meadows Community Room, 1800 NW O’Brien Street, Lee’s Summit, MO 64081. To stream the memorial service go to live.thesummit.church
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to:
Kansas State University Athletics Men’s Basketball Program. A memorial for Roger Craft has been established at the Kansas State University Foundation to support the Kansas State University Athletics Men’s Basketball Program. Contributions may be sent to: KSU Foundation, 1800 Kimball Ave., Ste 200, Manhattan, KS 66502, please indicate fund M47481. To make a gift online, go to ksufoundation.org/give/craft.
Montana State University Athletics Men’s Basketball Program. Checks should be made payable to MSUAF, adding the following in the memo line: Bobcat Men’s Basketball Excellence/6th Man, in Memory of Roger Craft, 1501 South 11th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715. To make gift online, go to MSU Alumni Foundation – Donate – Your Gift (imodules.com)
Condolences
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Lee's Summit, MO
Dear Aunt Norma, Laurie, Les, Derron, Marcia and all who knew and loved Roger,
Uncle Roger was always a favorite uncle from my youth. He was, first of all, fun–not always a quality children recognize in their elders. I remember a visit our family made to Salt Lake long ago, and the thing I remember most clearly is Roger teaching us all how to stand on our heads. I don’t think Aunt Carol and Uncle Lee had a very large living room at the time, so there was probably some concern about breakables on side tables when Uncle Roger was demonstrating his technique. I suppose there was even concern for the tables themselves! But the room and everything in it stayed in one piece. And I learned how to stand on my head, or at least make a passable effort at the task. Of course I remember more serious times. Uncle Roger was visiting our family in Fresno just as my father was coming to the end of his life. Uncle Roger joined in on some of the last hard nursing duties, and he was helpful to my mother as we readied ourselves for the memorial service. Ivna had the chance to meet him at a Craft reunion. She was horrified by stories of Montana winters, but appreciated the warmth and spirit of the midwestern branch of my family. He had a big life and a loving family. We are both thinking of you all. Love, Ivna and Bruce.
So sorry to hear of his passing. My dad (Max Keith Roberts) was a classmate of Norma Jeanne at St. John (Class of ’52) and late at K-State. Had the opportunity to meet Roger when Les was playing for Jack Hartman and was really impressed with his kindness.
There will be no other neighbor like Mr. Roger! Such a kind soul and great neighbor! We loved trading home grown veggies with each other and made the absolute Best strawberry pie!! Lots of laughs shared! You will be sorely missed! Thank you for being a friend and a Blessed neighbor!! Until we see you again…
Derron, Marcia, Laurie, Les and Norma, my sincere condolences and blessings go out to you all. My memories of Mr. Craft are of his great sense of humor, his kindness and his extreme pride in you all. What an amazing gift to your dad. My middle son Zach is a huge sports fan and had a great conversation with Roger at my mothers funeral in 2015. Zach still remembers and shares with us frequently the stories that your dad shared with him (especially about Jan Stenerud). Derron I will never forget the night that three young men and three pretty girls were playing games and drinking beer at your kitchen table when your parents came home early from their trip. Roger and Norma were unexpectedly greeted in their home with a pyramid of cans stacked from the counter to the ceiling and music blaring. Ever the understanding gentleman and parent we were politely dismissed, leaving that huge pile of cans, while Derron was upstairs changing the music on his epic stereo system. What a surprise you had when you came downstairs! Thank you Roger and Norma for dealing with the delinquent influencer Derron and not calling our parents! Love you all. Jack
My Uncle Roger was one of a kind. He reminded me so much of my Dad, yet they were also so unique from each other. It was always so much fun to watch the two of them when they got together.
I always enjoyed the Montana family reunions so much that he and his family put together for all of us.
Uncle Roger, I’ll see you later.
My deepest condolences to Norma and the entire Craft family.
Keith and I moved to Bozeman in 1987, not knowing anyone. But Keith re-connected with Roger and we were welcomed into the community and their family with open arms.
Roger was one of the kindest people I have ever known. And he and Norma and Keith and I enjoyed so much good food and so many fun games. So many good times! Such wonderful friends!
Love to all of you.
Dixie Swenson
Roger and I grew up on farms in the opposite ends of Kansas. We met at Kansas State University in the 1950s, knew each other by name, but were only casually acquainted. Our lives followed far different paths.
In 1987, nearly 30 years later, my wife Dixie and I moved to Bozeman, Montana. We knew not a soul, but the small college town felt like home.
Unforeseen circumstances led to me flying to Bozeman a day before our moving truck was scheduled to arrive. Dixie and daughter Ellen would arrive later after visiting her family in Iowa, a diversion from the 3000-mile drive from Florida.
I slept on the floor of our vacant house on Willson Avenue, and set out in the morning to find breakfast and explore Main Street. I could scarcely believe my eyes when I arrived at the corner of Willson and Main and there stood Roger. He was equally surprised to recognize me crossing the street toward him.
We shouted each other’s names, shook hands and hugged. Roger took me into the Baxter restaurant for breakfast. This was only the first of countless wonderful meals, celebrations, business ventures, and all things community.
Roger was so respected and admired in the community. He was my best friend. I miss him.