Roger L. Billig, age 81, of Little Falls, MN, died Sunday, March 1, 2015 at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls, MN. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2015, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Little Falls with Fr. Joseph Herzing officiating.  Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Little Falls. 

Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6th and from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 7th all at Emblom Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls. 

There will be Rosary at 4:30 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home followed by a Parish Prayer Service at 7:45 p.m. 

Roger Lawrence Billig was born June 5, 1933 in Little Falls, MN to the late Lawrence and Eleanor (McGonagle) Billig. Roger was raised in Royalton, MN. During his adolescence years, he worked for his father at Billig’s Standard Service Station in Royalton, MN. He graduated from Royalton High School with the Class of 1951. During his high school years, Roger was captain of the basketball and football teams and pitched a “no hitter” in baseball.  After completing his schooling, Roger enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard. He worked for 39 years and 11 months at Camp Ripley, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer W-4 in 1993. He was united in marriage to Anne Marie Zok on May 9, 1953 at Holy Trinity Church in Royalton, MN. The couple lived in Royalton from 1955 to 1957. In 1957 the family moved to Gregory, MN for a few years, and then moved to Randall, MN, residing there until 1969. Roger resided in Little Falls since 1969. Anne Marie died on January 26, 1994. Roger was a very active volunteer serving in many capacities, especially at St. Otto’s Care Center. Roger was a self-taught master electrician and enjoyed helping his children work on their homes. Working on countless projects for other people was also a real delight for him. He especially enjoyed repairing TV’s, radios and bicycles. Roger loved bicycling, following his children in their activities, and spoiling the grandchildren. 

Left to cherish his memory are his children, Douglas of Freemont, NE, Michael (Robbie) of Austin, TX, Gregory of Swanville, MN, John (Eu Han Lee) of Minneapolis, MN, Denise (Lloyd) Kressin of Glencoe, MN, Patrick (Kimberly Hobert) of Roseville, MN, Mary (David) Van Thomme of Faribault, MN, Daniel (Cheryl) of Maplewood, MN, Rebecca of St. Cloud, MN, Jay of Austin, TX, Ryan (Sarah Murphy) of Minneapolis, MN, Eric (Marcela) of Austin, TX, and Noah (Staci Petrich) of Fayetteville, AR; sisters, Marilyn Zwack of Brooklyn Center, MN, and Carole (Duane) Zapzalka of Bowlus, MN; brother-in-law, Gerald Justin of Little Falls, MN, and 20 grandchildren. 

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Eleanor Billig; wife, Anne Marie Billig; daughter-in-law, Kathryn Chapman; sister, Patricia Justin and brother-in-law, Richard Zwack. 

An Appreciation of Dad

We are delivering papers on a Sunday morning. Everyone else is asleep at home. You spend this time with me every Sunday, we are in the old Ford station wagon - or was it a Chevy? - one of multiple variations of station wagons we had growing up. 

You drop me off with a bundle of papers under my arm, and I run to deliver them as you drive ahead to deliver a few - and the race is on! We have this little race every week. Who will get back to the car first? I don't even remember how it started, but each week, I jump out, running from house to house, trying to get back to the car before you finish with your last paper. Here you found a way to compete with me, me the sissy son; with all my ball playing brothers and you, my captain of the football and basketball teams father, YOU play THIS game with ME. Sometimes you win, sometimes (actually, somehow, most times) I win. And then, afterward, is the analysis. Why the other person won, what disadvantage the loser encountered, was the division of papers fair, and so on. 

You and me. Delivering papers. In the station wagon. On a Sunday morning.

Thanks, Dad.

Love forever,

John