Roger Lonis Sherman, 86, of Whitefish died on New Years Day, 2026 at Logan Health Hospital surrounded by his wife, two children, four of his grandchildren and their partners. After a six-year struggle with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, he experienced multisystem organ failure. 

Edgar and Marjorie Sherman welcomed Roger, their first child into this world on June 14, 1939, in Newark, Ohio, but soon afterwards the family moved to New Concord, Ohio where Roger, his brother Leigh and sister Linda (deceased) grew up.  

He and his wife, Sue, of 63 years graduated from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio. His teaching and coaching career was in Ohio at Worthington High School, Oberlin College, and Marietta College, interspersed with a couple year stint at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He finished his career as an educator at Amherst Public Schools in Amherst, Ohio and several schools in three different foreign countries. Upon retirement, Roger and Sue moved to the Flathead Valley to be near their two children and grandchildren along with the great outdoors of Montana. They both substitute taught and coached for the Columbia Falls Public Schools.  

Beyond his profession and family, Roger’s tireless volunteer efforts advocating for social causes and environmental conservation initiatives were his passion. Anyone who ever met him described Roger as gregarious, empathetic, altruistic, compassionate, and fun loving. Despite two bouts of cancer, Roger’s lifelong drive to exercise, especially while enjoying the outdoors with his family and friends was inspirational to many.  

Roger is survived by his wife, Sue, brother, Leigh Sherman (wife, Barb), son, Michael Sherman (wife, Susan), daughter, Meridith Gargasz (husband, Matt); five grandchildren, Zachary, Maxwell and Samuel Gargasz, and Lonis and Josephine Sherman; as well as three great-grandchildren.