Jack Rojic

Jack Rojic, age 86, of Sentinel Butte, North Dakota, passed away on Friday, June 11, 2010, at Medcenter One in Bismarck, North Dakota. Visitation will be held from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Tuesday, June 15, 2010, at the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Beach. A Life Tribute Service will be held at 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, June 16, 2010, at the Sentinel Butte Community Center with Celebrant Sandy Silha officiating. Interment will follow in the Sentinel Butte Cemetery. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Beach is entrusted with arrangements. Jack was born May 14, 1924, near Roundup, Montana, the son of Jacob and Mary (Florjancic) Rojic. Jack and his family moved to the Ruby Valley. He graduated from high school in Sheridan, Montana, with the class of 1942. Shortly after high school, Jack moved to Wibaux County, Montana. In 1950, he moved to Sentinel Butte, where he resided until the time of his death. Farming and ranching served as Jack's livelihood and his main hobby. He worked hard raising cattle herds and was a successful rancher. He always enjoyed a good auction. Jack was preceded in death by his parents. Jack is survived by his 2 brothers: Albert Rojic and his wife Sis of Wibaux, Montana, and Walter Rojic of Beach, North Dakota; his sister, Vera Poderzay of Fair Oaks, California; and numerous nieces and nephews. Jack Rojic Life Tribute Service June 16, 2010 Sentinel Butte Community Center Sentinel Butte, North Dakota Welcome: Master of Ceremonies Song: “Wings of a Dove” by Bob Petermann Eulogy: Celebrant Not far from where we are today, amidst the rolling hills and the grassy plains, lies the world of Jack Rojic. For sixty years, Jack was a caretaker of land and cattle, doing some farming, but mainly running cows on his ranch near Camel’s Hump Dam. The first twenty-six years of Jack’s life prior to settling in the Sentinel Butte area, was spent working and learning the way of the cowboy and the work of the ranch life. The second of four children and the oldest son, Jack was born into a ranching family. His father taught the children a strong work ethic early in life, and that work ethic was evident throughout all eighty-six years of Jack’s life. Less than two weeks ago, Jack was helping to brand this year’s crop of calves. Most of Jack’s youth was spent during the hard times of the Depression years, and these times on the ranches of Montana were tough. The family was poor, but Jack’s father set an example of hard work and of not taking any government assistance, just somehow making it on their own, earning their own way. That lesson was not lost on Jack, and he too, found success in his own hard work, and could take pride in not owing anyone or carrying debt. Jack was fiercely independent and liked to do things on his own terms. Sometimes by doing things on his own terms, Jack could get on the wrong side of those around him. Walt recalls a time during their youth when Jack had managed to get their father very angry. Jack was about 9 or 10, and Jack’s angry dad threatened to take Jack to the boys’ reform school in Miles City, Montana. He loaded Jack into an old car the family had, and as his father went around the car to get into the driver’s side, Jack jumped out and took off running. Walt laughes when he tells this story on Jack because that old car probably couldn’t have even made it out to the road to go anywhere. When Jack graduated from high school in Sheridan, Montana, it was 1942, and the United States was gearing up for war. Jack was called up, but his father got Jack deferred from the service to help the family on the ranch. And the ranch here at Sentinel Butte was started with Jack’s father in 1950. Jack enjoyed good cattle, and was particular about his cattle and about the bulls he would buy. He started out with herds of Hereford’s, but over the years raised many kinds, whatever seemed to bring the best money. There is some farming done on the ranch, and Jack liked to farm. Jack enjoyed machinery and running the tractor. He loved to tinker with mechanics and welding of which he was self-taught. He also loved a good auction. Jack was frugal, and found many a good buy at area auctions. When he would get home, he wasn’t always certain what he would use his purchases for, but once he started bidding, he had a hard time quitting until he was the winning bidder. Jack never married, but he always seemed to have an animal around to care for. He had one border collie he allowed in the house. And he worried about that dog. He had the dog for about 13 years, and Jack figured he and the dog were about the same age. Another animal he took a shine to was a steer that would eat out of his hand. Everyone else thought the steer was a bit cantankerous and troublesome. But Jack kept the steer around long past when the steer should have been butchered. When Jack wasn’t tending the cattle or farming, he would have an animal close at hand or be tinkering around the ranch or on the machinery. Jack liked to keep his hands busy. Jack was pretty much all business. He did enjoy his beer. And he liked going to auctions and bull sales. But Jack rarely strayed from the ranch. He might go to Billings to a rodeo, to Miles City to the Bucking Horse Sale, and once he went to the Denver Stock Show. But for the most part, life was simple and straightforward. Jack was a cowboy, a cowman, a rancher. As his brothers Walt and Al put it, “Jack’s life was his work and his work was his life.” Jack was fortunate to have good health during his lifetime. Oh, he had his mishaps and injuries. He once fell off a grainery and broke a leg. And when tending the ranch on horseback became too difficult for Jack, the 4-wheeler became his new horse. Jack managed a couple of spills on the four-wheeler, one in 2005 that broke his hip. But he recovered from these and as was mentioned earlier, Jack was working at the ranch for this spring’s branding. Jack thought he had hurt his back during the branding, and when it didn’t seem better the next day, Jack was taken to the doctor. Complications arose, and on Friday, June 11, 2010, Jack Rojic went on to greener pastures. Every life has value and every life touches everyone and everything around it. As we remember and pay tribute to Jack, there is a saying that seems to fit the man Jack Rojic was and the life he led: “Let my work speak for me.” Let us each bring to mind our own personal memories of Jack to as we listen to Bob Petermann sing “Home On The Range”. Song: “Home On The Range” by Bob Petermann Closing: Celebrant Jack’s brothers, Walt and Al, and his nephew, Scott Rojic, have honored Jack and his life by doing a few things for today’s service. A memory board with photos of Jack is present for all to look at, and a few of Jack’s personal favorites that reflect his life are with him including his saddle, his hat, branding irons, and he is wearing his boots. The casket the family had made for Jack has been branded by his family with four brands. One is Jack’s brand, another is Jack’s father’s brand, the Lazy JD Bar; the third is the three brothers’ brand, the Y3; the fourth brand is Al’s brand, the 2 Hanging X. These brands are really a tribute to the story of Jack, a rancher and cowboy. Spending 86 years as a rancher and farmer, and living close to and depending on the land gives a man a special perspective about life. He’s seen Mother Nature at her best and at her worst; he’s witnessed tragedy and miracles. He’s felt simple things bring satisfaction to the heart and soul. Although Jack did not formally belong to or attend an organized church, he was aware of and believed that there was more at work in our world than the hand of man. On behalf of Jack, let us close his life tribute service with “A Cowboy Prayer”, author unknown. “A Cowboy Prayer” I ain’t much good at prayin, And you may not know me Lord; I ain’t much seen in churches Where they preach Thy Holy Word. But You may have observed me Out there on the lonely plains, Alooking after cattle Feelin’ thankful when it rains. Admirin’ Thy great handiwork, The miracle of grass. Aware of Thy kind spirit In the way it comes to pass. That cattlemen on horseback And the livestock that we tend, Can look up at the stars at night And know we’ve got a friend. (author unknown) You have honored Jack Rojic greatly with your presence here today. Thank you all for coming to spend time remembering Jack. Jack Rojic Committal Service Sentinel Butte Cemetery Sentinel Butte, North Dakota June 16, 2010 Celebrant: It is an important day when we stop to bear witness to a person’s life and times among us, the difference his living and dying has made among family and community, and to take time to express our grief, our hope, our memories. Thank you for being here for this important time. In committing Jack Rojic’s body to this ground, we do so with a deep reverence for that body as the temple during life of a unique personality who will be missed here on this earth. Please listen to this reading of the Twenty-Third Psalm, which seems particularly fitting for a man of the land such as Jack was. The Twenty-Third Psalm The Lord is my Shepard: I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still water. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou annointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. As we say good-bye and commit Jack Rojic to this ground, we recognize that to all human beings, to all living forms, the soil has ever provided the sustenance that is the stuff of life. Jack’s family has brought some soil from Jack’s ranch to mingle with the soil of Jack’s final resting place, so that he may have a little bit of home with him. It will be to that good earth that we give back the remains of Jack Rojic. At this time, Jack’s family will place the soil from his ranch with Jack, followed by a blessing from Brother Alred.

Jack Rojic

May 14, 1924 - June 16, 2010

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Jack Rojic

May 14, 1924 - June 16, 2010

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support