Roger George Linnett was born on July 18, 1941, in Sheridan, Wyoming to George and Dorothy (Olsen) Linnett. He grew up and went to school in Sheridan and graduated from Sheridan High School with the class of 1959. After high school, he attended Sheridan College where he received an AA degree. Then attended the University of Missouri in Kansas City where he received BA and MA degrees. He was married on June 10, 1966, in Kansas City, Missouri to Patricia Kay Stanton.

He is survived by his wife Patricia Linnett; one daughter Deverie McCoy and her husband Wesley; one sister Linda Johnson and her husband Harvey; two grandchildren Brynna and Ava McCoy; one nephew Dave Johnson and two nieces Karla and Connie. He was preceded in death by his parents