Donald Clifton Roach

  Donald C. Roach (Don) passed away peacefully on July 16, 2025.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Alverda “Sity”; Roach, and his children, Robert

M. Roach, Lynn R. Smith (John), and Sheryl A. Clouse; his grandchildren, Jason R.

Roach, Danielle M. Roach, Douglas A. Smith (Claire), Benjamin A. Smith, William J.

Smith, and Taylor M. DeBlanc (Antonio); his great-grandson, Gordon M. Smith; and

siblings Richard Roach (JoAnn) and Carol Farella.

Don was born to A. Clifton and Ruby Roach in Billings, Montana, on September 3, 1936,

and graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1954. He pursued higher education

at the Colorado School of Mines before enlisting in the United States Army, where he

was stationed at Fort Belvoir in Fairfax, Virginia. While serving, Don met Sity Grimes,

whom he married on January 24, 1959. Don and Sity relocated to Germany for his

military assignment, during which they spent several months apart. Throughout this

period, Don wrote to Sity every day. Upon completing his military service in 1961, Don

earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Montana State University

(Bozeman) in 1964, followed by an MBA from the University of West Virginia in 1969.

Don had a varied and adventurous career. During high school, Don worked on a wheat

ranch. During college summers, Don worked as an oil rig roustabout in Jackson Hole,

Wyoming, and “cut trails” with the U.S. Forest Service in Idaho. These early jobs were

the source of many stories later shared with his children and grandchildren.

After graduation from college, Don had a distinguished engineering and operations career in the chemical, mining, and petroleum industries, working in various locations including

South Charleston, WV; Butte, MT; Albuquerque, NM; and Anchorage, AK. While living

in Anchorage, he worked “1 week on, 1 week off” at Prudhoe Bay, AK in the Arctic

Circle. During this time, he notably worked on Operation Breakthrough to rescue

stranded whales near Prudhoe Bay, AK in 1988. Don retired from ARCO in 1990.

An avid fisherman, Don learned the sport in Montana from his father. He enjoyed it

throughout his life, especially fishing for halibut and salmon in Alaska. Later he shared

this passion with his grandchildren via annual “Poppy Camp” trips to Red Lodge, MT.

He was a member of High Desert United Methodist Church. He also cherished the

companionship of his rescue dog, Joey. He will be remembered for his love of family,

his propensity for geology lectures, his countless stories, and his steadfast Christian

faith.