Roger Dilger

Roger Dilger, 69, went to be with his Lord & Savior on February 18, 2021 with his wife & daughters by his side.

He was born on April 4, 1951 to William Sr. & Magdalena (Keller) Dilger in Bismarck. He attended many schools within ND due to his father’s job as a traveling construction worker. He attended Simile Jr. High & Bismarck High School. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1970 & served for 4 years.

While on leave from the Navy in 1973, Roger met the love of his life, Joann Weiss. They were united in marriage at Zion Lutheran in Bismarck on Sept. 7, 1974. They moved to Mandan & their first daughter, Kristi, was born on Nov. 4, 1977. She was then joined by her sister, Stephanie, on Feb. 12, 1979.

He was employed for a short time constructing irrigation systems in MT & ND. Later he joined Mariner Construction as a machine operator. In October of 1978 he began work at North American Coal Company at the Falkirk Mine in Underwood for over 35 years. At Falkirk, he first worked as a truck driver, then as a dragline operator until his retirement in February of 2013. In his retirement he enjoyed working for Executive Limousine in Mandan. He loved driving for weddings, bar hopping, party buses & Christmas Light tours.

Roger enjoyed being outdoors. Golf was his passion. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards & getting together with family & friends. He was known for playing pranks, especially on April Fool’s Day.

He faithfully served the Lord at Messiah & Bethel Lutheran churches as a youth leader, Vacation Bible School leader, properties board chair, an elder & council president.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, William Sr. & Magdalena Dilger; sister, Judy Johs; brother-in-law, Tom Jundt; parents-in-law, Edgar & Glora Weiss; brother-in-law, Les Weiss; niece, Amanda Weiss; great-nephew, Mason Anderson.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Joann Dilger & daughters, Kristi & Stephanie Dilger, all of Bismarck; sister, Mary Jean Jundt of Bismarck; brothers, William Jr. “Sonny” (Pat) Dilger of Fort Collins, CO; Jeff (Penny) Dilger of Wilton & Loren Dilger of Bismarck; brother-in-law, Joe Johs of Bismarck; sisters-in-law Carol (Larry) Hartman of Zap, Delrae (Lee) Holden of Bismarck, Marilyn (Melvin) Sutheimer of Bismarck; brother-in-law, Jerome (Sheree) Weiss of Zap; 26 nephews & nieces; 42 great-nephews/nieces; 22 great-great-nephews/nieces; 1 great-great-great niece.

There will not be a viewing or visitation because cremation has taken place. The funeral will be on Thursday, February 25 at Bethel Lutheran Church, 615 E. Turnpike Ave., Bismarck, ND at 10:30 am. For those not able to attend, the service will be livestreamed on Bethel’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/bethelbismarck. The family requests masks are worn & social distancing is observed. There will not be a reception after the service & a private burial is planned for a later date.

Roger will forever be missed by everyone whose lives he touched!