Roger Borchert

Roger N. Borchert, 60, Bismarck, passed away on October 1, 2007, after a very short battle with liver and bile duct cancer at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN. A memorial service will be held on Monday at 10:00 AM at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, with Rev. Randy Upgren officiating. Roger was born on January 10, 1947, in Faribault, MN, the son of August F. and Winoma S.Kirkman Borchert. He graduated from Faribault High School in 1965 and from Winona State University in 1969 with a B.S. in Geology. Roger married Nancy A. Kotlarz of Winona, MN, on December 20, 1969, at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona. Together they raised two daughters, Heather and Shelley. They were his pride and joy. Roger began his career as a teacher in Illinois in January of 1970 and he continued teaching later in Wyoming. He and Nancy moved to New Hope, MN, in 1973 and he began working as an engineer at Pesek Engineering and Manufacturing. In 1975 he accepted a position with the North Dakota Geological Survey as an oil inspector. After working in this capacity for five years, in 1980 he was offered the opportunity to work as an independent consulting geologist for Harris, Brown, and Klemer, Inc. Eventually, he became a partner in the firm, and continued there until his death. He and his dear friend, Robert P. Johnson, ran Harris, Brown, and Klemer, Inc. Johnson and Borchert Consulting Geologists until his death. He was considered an excellent well site geologist and will be dearly missed by his friends in the field. Roger was a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the American Institute of Professional Geologists, North Dakota Geological Society past president, Society of Mining Engineers, North Dakota Landman's Association, and the Elks Club. He was the general chairman of the 5th Williston Basin Symposium in 1987 and the general chairman of the 1988 Rocky Mountain Section of AAPG. His favorite pastimes were fishing, golfing, reading, hunting, and fossil hunting. He is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years, Nancy of Bismarck; his daughter and son-in-law, Heather and Jeremy Christian of Schwenksville, PA; his daughter, Shelley Borchert and her special friend, Patrick Morgan of Bristow, VA; his mother, Winoma S. Borchert of Adel, IA; his sister and brother-in-law, Winoma S. "Sue" and Richard Schneider of Safford, AZ; his brothers, August D. Borchert of Warsaw, MN, and Troy Borchert of North Mankato, MN; his mother-in-law, Armella Kotlarz of Winona, MN; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Denis and Sherry Kotlarz of Hutchinson, MN, Beverly and David Arnoldy of Winona, MN, Garry and Donna Kotlarz of Hutchinson, MN, Patricia Kotlarz of Winona, MN, and Kevin Kotlarz of Winona, MN; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, August F. Borchert; his father-in-law, Benedict V. Kotlarz; and his sister-in-law, Pamela Borchert. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the Geology Department at Winona State University, PO Box 5838, Winona, MN 55987-5838.

Roger Borchert

January 10, 1947 - October 1, 2007