Roger L. Carriere

Roger L. Carriere, 73, of Walhalla, ND passed away on Sunday, December 10, 2023 at his home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Walhalla, ND. Visitation will be held at the church on Monday, December 18th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. vigil service.

Roger Lee Carriere was born on May 1, 1950, to Camille and Frances Carrier. Roger was the oldest of seven children who all worked and played together on the family farm south of Walhalla, ND. He took his responsibilities as the oldest child very seriously and even stayed home to manage the farm when the rest of the family traveled to California in the winter of 1967-68.

Roger attended Walhalla High School and graduated in 1968. He later attended UND in Grand Forks for a brief time. He moved to Williston in the early 70’s during which time he stayed with his dear Aunt Marlene and Uncle Rene. Roger was proud to have earned his private pilot’s license alongside his uncle Rene during that time. Spending time with Marlene and Rene’s family is how he ultimately met his wife, Jean Lindvig.

Roger and Jean were married on June 11, 1977. Together they had three children, Susanne, Douglas & Margot. They raised their family in a cozy little house on the corner of 17th Street in Williston. Roger gained skills in the welding trade through apprenticeship and worked his way through certifications while honing his skills as a pipeline welder in the 1980’s Williston oil boom. In the 1990’s, oil activity slowed around Willison and Roger took to traveling to many parts of the western United States to work onpipelining projects.

Upon Roger and Jean’s marriage ending in 2004, he remained working in the Williston area. He was delighted to be working through another oil boom, something he never dreamed would happen in his lifetime. A man of many interests, he enjoyed playing horseshoes with neighbors and friends in leagues around Williston, hunting, fishing, playing pool, golf, dabbling with the guitar and trying new recipes.

In 2007 Roger was joined in marriage to childhood friend, Hope Johnstone and he retired to Walhalla in 2013. He refurbished a home there and also enjoyed spending time working on the Bjornstad farm, running a small landscaping business and hanging out with his beloved rat terrier, Archie. Roger remained in Walhalla after his marriage to Hope ended in 2017.

As his health declined, he found new hobbies like perfecting a beef jerky recipe, sketching, tinkering with Model A tractors, restoring antique pocketknives and seasoning cast iron pans. In his later years, Roger’s Catholic faith grew very strong, and he enjoyed discussing theology with his family and friends.

His proudest moments in the last twelve years were the news of the birth of each of grandchildren: Jackson, Ivan, Nola and Beya. As a proud grandfather, Roger spent time visiting his grandsons in Winnipeg and granddaughters in Fargo. He loved to talk to them on the phone and to hear stories of their growing and adventures.

Roger is preceded in death by infant nephew, Aaron Carrier; sister, Karen Kramer; father, Camille Carrier and sister Susan Kartes.

Roger is survived by his mother, Frances; children Susanne (Regan) Kilbrei, Douglas (Emily) Carrier, Margot (Brett) Brunelle; four grandchildren, Jackson and Ivan Kilbrei, Nola and Beya Carrier. He is also survived by three brothers, Kevin Carrier, Kent Carrier, JD Carrier and wife Dawn, sister Cathy Urlaub and husband Larry Gerhardson, Aunt Marlene and many cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, great-nieces and great-nephews.