Roger Scheifler

As told by his sister, Charlotte Kirby

On October 24, 1981, Roger was busy managing his father's bar, the Plaza, in Three Forks. He was getting ready to go hunting; he was completely crazy about fishing and hunting. The night bartender did now show up so Roger pulled a double shift.

His wife, Linda, called Roger's dad, Herb, around 3:15 a.m. on October 25, to say he had not showed up. They lived in the old mining town of Pony with their two young daughters. Herb drove the road from the bar to Pony looking for Roger. He and Linda then drove it again.

When they couldn't find him, they called the deputy sheriff, Ron Brown. Roger packed a lot of money and they worried that he could have been robbed. At daylight, Ron flew over the Jefferson River and saw Roger's car in the water, on its top with the wheels sticking out.

Authorities estimate that Roger was only going about 25 miles per hour when he fell asleep, woke up and found himself heading for the approximately 70 foot rock wall on his right. On his left was a long drop to the river. He overcorrected and his bumper hooked the old cable guardrail. It flipped him into the river upside down.

The money Roger was carrying was recovered. I remember my father sitting at the table, drying the money with tears running down his cheeks.

It is ironic that Roger died there, where he had saved his mother's life ten years before in approximately the same spot. When his parents' boat hit a snag and flipped, Roger saw her go under, found her and saved her.

Roger's cross is located on Highway 287, along the Jefferson River, 2.2 miles west of the old turnoff to Three Forks, just inside Broadwater County.

October 2, 1953 -

October 25, 1981