Rodney Eveland

Funeral service for Rodney Paul ?Rod? Eveland, age 63, of Gillette, Wyoming will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 12, 2007 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Gillette with Pastor Scott Firminhac officiating. Burial will follow in the Gillette-Mount Pisgah Cemetery with full military honors provided by the American Legion Post #42. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday, May 11, 2007 at the Trinity Lutheran Church. With his family at his side Rodney Paul Eveland died Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at the Campbell Count Memorial Hospital from cancer. Rod was born March 27, 1944 the son of Gladys M. (Stipp) Bonneville and Richard P. Eveland in Chester, Montana. Rod was raised and educated in the Chester, Montana area and graduated high school in 1962. In the fall of 1962 Rod enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Oceanographic Unit during the ?Cold War.? Rod served for six years and earned the rank of (E-5) before his honorable discharge in 1968. While in the U.S. Navy Rod was assigned to the USNS Dutton and served as a Navigation Systems technician establishing one of the first GPS systems, was an excellent computer diagnostician. He received the National Defense Service Medal and a commendation for his service. Rod married La Vonne Kathleen Schmiege on April 17, 1971 in Zimmerman, Minnesota; they were married for 36 years. Rod and La Vonne had two children Mark and Rachel. Rod joined IBM in February of 1967 with a short jaunt at a subsidiary of IBM, ?Technology Services Solutions? until his death; he worked for them for forty plus years. Rod and his family resided in several U.S. states before making Gillette, Wyoming their home in 1985. Rod loved to garden and he especially loved fruit trees. He enjoyed his tropical fish, he liked birds and photography and loved to shop and use computers. Playing Bridge and other card games with his family and friends was his pastime that he took seriously and applied his sense of strategy. He loved to work on the cross word puzzles in the newspaper, spending many Sundays at LuLu Belle?s Caf engaging the employee?s to help. Rod was a people person. He liked to write editorials, practicing his writing and voicing his opinions. Remember the ?Samson and Delilah Debate?? He was published in a gardening magazine, Pamona, The News Record, Denver Post, Great Falls Times, Timber Press, Bozeman, Casper Star Tribune and the Billings Gazette. Rod joined Toastmasters in April of 1987 he held the position of President, Secretary, Sergeant at Arms, Vice President of Public Relations and Vice President of Education. He became a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in September, 1985. He served the church as an usher and was on the building committee, was an evangelist chair, did computers maintenance with his friend Swede Heimgartner they would do many anonymous deed of kindness. Rod had a great sense of humor that has carried him through his lifetime and through his illness. Rod was devoted to his family, church and community, always trying to make things better than they were.Rod is survived by his wife La Vonne, his children Mark Eveland, of Gillette, Wyoming; Rachel (Eveland)Eldeen, of Billings, Montana; his son-in-law Heath Eldeen of Billings, Montana; his mother Gladys Bonneville of Lafayette, Oregon; his brother Gary Eveland of Lafayette, Oregon his step brother Stephen Bonneville of Aloha, Oregon and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Richard Eveland; step mother Ester Eveland; step father Ivan Bonneville and his mother-in-law Dorcus Bonneville Schmiege. Memorials and Condolences may be sent in Rod?s name in care of Walker Funeral Home, 410 Medical Arts Court, Gillette, Wyoming, 82716 or via the internet at www.walkerfuneralgillette.com.