Roger Milton Frampton, 60

Roger Milton Frampton passed away at Kalispell Regional Medical Center on June 5, 2006, due to complications from surgery.

Roger was the youngest of three children born to Milton J. and Patricia Bernardine DeVinny Frampton. Roger was born on March 26, 1946, in Salt Lake City. He attended grade school in Denver. He started high school at Rincon High School in Tucson, and later graduated from the San Diego Military Academy, where he was sent after a minor traffic infraction so he "wouldn't end up like his older siblings, Kent and Kay, who were in trouble all the time." Despite obvious evidence to the contrary, Roger's mother later maintained that Roger actually had wanted to attend the military school. She also relayed that Roger was happy to have paid his own tuition with his share of an inheritance that the siblings had each received from an uncle. This misconception was a source of continued amusement to Kent and Kay, who knew Roger would have much preferred frivolously to enjoy his inheritance as they had.

After high school, Roger joined Kent at the San Francisco City College, Hotel and Restaurant School. After graduating from college, Roger moved to Las Vegas, joined the Army Reserves and began his more than 40-year career working in the casino industry. He began as a front desk clerk at the Del Webb Mint hotel and casino.

While at the Mint, Roger met his future wife, Ginny Johnson, who was working in room reservations. They were married in Las Vegas on May 2, 1970. Soon thereafter, Roger and Ginny moved to South Lake Tahoe where Roger became the assistant cage manager at the newly opened Del Webb Sahara Tahoe. Under armed security and over the course of several days, Roger carried in the original casino bank - which was at least several million dollars worth of coin - for the hotel casino that is still operating in Tahoe today.

Roger's daughter, Jill Leann, was born on Aug. 2, 1971, in South Lake Tahoe. Roger cherished his daughter, Jill, and she brought much joy to him throughout his life.

Roger returned to Las Vegas that same year in 1971 to begin dealing cards at the Sahara and quickly moved up within the management of the organization.

Roger's son, Jeffrey Roger Milton, was born on Nov. 13, 1973. One of the joys of Roger's life was observing and encouraging Jeff's lifelong love of bikes, which culminated in Jeffrey starting a successful bicycle sales and service shop in Boulder City, Nev.

Roger's next move was to Circus Circus where he worked as a pit boss for several years. During that period, his children, and nieces and nephews, recall Roger reaching into his shirt pocket on numerous occasions to pull out the gold "free passes" that he gave them to play games in the hotel's arcade. Others in Las Vegas would remember his immaculate appearance, as he paid scrupulous attention to his dress and appearance.

Roger drove to Montana in March of 1986 to visit his brother, Kent. Roger quickly decided to move to Montana and did so later that same year. He partnered with Kent in Cavanaugh's Casino located at the Kalispell Center Mall and worked there until opening the Best Bet Kalispell in 1998. To Roger's delight, Jill joined him at the Best Bet in 2000 after she completed graduate school. Roger continued to work at the Best Bet until his death.

During his tenure in Montana, Roger and Kent started several successful businesses in Kalispell, Whitefish, Helena and Missoula. Roger enjoyed the gaming industry and returned often to Las Vegas to take in the city, visit son Jeff, and see other friends and family.

The greatest love of Roger's life was his children. He encouraged his children to pursue their passions and was extremely proud of the adults they had become - both personally and professionally. Roger's dedication and unconditional love toward his children was apparent to all and was reflected in daily life - whether it be the time Roger brought home a beautiful white dress with yellow trim to his young daughter, the time he took his son shopping to buy cowboy boots to match his own, the time he took his son to fly-fishing school, or the numerous times he supported their life decisions. He enjoyed watching his children grow up and following their endeavors.

Roger had a tremendous, yet guarded, depth that he shared with his family and closest friends. He had close, long-term friends that he cherished, often partnering with them in business and play. He enjoyed hunting pheasants throughout eastern Montana with Kent and others, and was reportedly a very good shot.

Roger Frampton is survived by his children, Jill of Kalispell, and Jeffrey of Las Vegas. He is also survived by his brother, Kent, and Mary of Whitefish; sister, Kay and Ray Medrano of Las Vegas; his ex-wife, Ginny, of Las Vegas; nieces and nephews, Susan and Chris Proctor of Las Vegas, Scott Medrano of Las Vegas, Sean and Diana Frampton and MJ and Tim Lannaghan, all of Whitefish, Kyrene and Stephen Butters of Denver, and Michael Heggem of Minneapolis; and many great-nieces and -nephews who all loved "Uncle Roger" including Tyler, Justin, Dillon, Ethan, Tatum, Maria, Ryan and Luke.

He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, June 10, at Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish with the funeral beginning at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell.

Memorials can be made to your charity of choice.