LEWISTOWN - Rolland D. "Pug" Jorgensen, 62, of Lewistown, died Monday evening, May 24, at St Vincent Hospital in Billings.

He was born Dec. 10, 1930, at Anthon, Iowa, the son of Earl and Clara Jorgensen. When he was 5 years old, he moved with the family to Sheridan, Wyo., where he attended Big Goose School and graduated from Sheridan High School. He continued his education at the University of Wyoming and earned a B.S. degree in agriculture in 1953. Following graduation, he served in the Army for two years.

Upon completion of his military service he was assistant county agent of Carbon County in Joliet for a short time. He then returned to the University of Wyoming and received an M.S. degree in range management in 1958. In December of that year he moved to Lewistown and started working for the Bureau of Land Management

He was united in marriage to Kathleen Bales on Sept. 17, 1961, in Sheridan, Wyo., and they continued to live in Lewistown. In 1975 Pug went to work for the CM. Russell Game Range for about a year but then returned to work for the Bureau of Land Management. He held several positions in the BLM over the years and retired in August of 1989.

He was active in the North Central Montana Rodeo Association for many years and won the team roping event for the year in 1964. He continued to participate in team roping until ill health prevented it.

His hobbies were his horses and related activities. He helped with the BLM wild horse roundups in the Pryor Mountains for several years and was one of the horse wranglers on the Montana Centennial Cattle Drive in 1989.

He was a member of the Montana Stockgrower's Association and a life member of the University of Wyoming Alumni Association.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy, of Lewistown; three sons, Jeff of Lewistown, Brad of Casper, Wyo., and Clark of Butte; his mother, Clara, of Sheridan, Wyo.; and one brother, Ray, of McCall, Idaho.

He was preceded in death by his father in 1978.

Services for Rolland "Pug" Jorgensen will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Creel-Morrison-Retz Chapel in Lewistown with graveside services to be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery in Sheridan, Wyo.

Memorials may be made to the Montana Stockgrower's Association or a charity of the donor's choice.

Billings Gazette - May 27, 1993