Rodney D. Sullivan, 55

Rodney D. Sullivan, 55, passed away peacefully in California, on Monday, Feb. 15, 2010, with family by his side. Born in Kalispell on July 5, 1954, to Cecil and May Sullivan, Rod was raised in the Swan River Community near Bigfork, and attended Swan River Elementary School. He graduated from Bigfork High School in 1972. Rod always wanted to serve in law-enforcement, and so he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a first step, in order to receive military police training so that he could qualify for appointment to the California Highway Patrol Academy. He served at various posts, but particularly enjoyed the time he spent at the Presidio in San Francisco. After his time in the Army, Rod received that appointment and attended the CHP Academy, receiving his badge in 1978. He reported to duty in Malibu, Calif., and wore his California Highway Patrol uniform proudly for 30 years, spending time in Malibu, Los Angeles, and ultimately Ventura, Calif., retiring from the force in 2008. Rod had high security clearance and pulled duty when various dignitaries were in Southern California, including presidential appearances, especially during the Reagan administration. Rod married Rochelle Kruse on July 30, 1983, in a beautiful ceremony at Marina del Ray in California. They had two children that were Rod s greatest pride and joy, Daniel and Felicia. Everyone that knew Rod, knew how he loved to tease, and remember that impish grin; and those that remember him as a child recall the bright freckles that he so hated as a kid! Regardless of the bumps he dealt with in life, the final being the diagnosis of Lou Gehrig s disease, Rod kept his sense of humor and enjoyment of family and friends. Even when he could no longer converse, he managed a thumbs up signal and that grin. He will be sorely missed. Rod was preceded in death by his father, Cecil Sullivan, and a brother-in-law, Richard Kruse, both in 1999; and his mother-in-law, Min Kruse, in 2008. Rod is survived by his wife Rochelle, daughter Felicia, and son Daniel, all at home in Camarillo, Calif.; his mother, May Sullivan, of Bigfork; his sister and brother-in-law, Arlene and Gary Wilson, of Great Falls; his sister-in-law and her husband, Debbie and Gary Shelford, of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; and brother-in-law and his wife, Gary and Dana Kruse, of Parker, Colo.; as well as beloved nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family, and many friends in both Montana and California. Cremation has taken place under the auspices of the Neptune Society in California. Memorial services will take place at a later date in Camarillo and Bigfork.