Rollin Bradley “Rollie” Metz

57, died, surrounded by

family, on Friday, August

4, 2017 in a Minot hospi-

tal following a brief battle

with pancreatic cancer.

Rollin was born on July

22, 1960 in Minot to Rol-

lin and Ione (Reimann)

Metz. He was raised and

educated in Minot. As a

young adult he was em-

ployed as a television

tower technician and

home builder.

Rollie married Elaine

Bonavita on March 21,

2003 in Minot, where they

made their home. He was

employed as the

owner/manager of several

retail beverage establish-

ments. His sense of ad-

venture took him to An-

tarctica, where he worked

on various projects and

was awarded medals and

certificates by the Nation-al Science Foundation,

and the Department of

Navy.

He was a member of

First Lutheran Church,

the National Rifle Associ-

ation, the American Kiting

Association, and the

Bluegrass and Old Time

Music Association of

North Dakota. Rollie’s

hobbies and special in-

terests included SCUBA

diving, kiting, and playing

various folk instruments

including the ukulele and

banjo. He played the

trombone in the Minot

High School Band and at-

tended the International

Music Camp for several

years. Rollie loved sharing

his musical gifts for

friends, family and the

staff in the ICU/PCU. He

loved flying his kites and

would travel to the Neva-

da desert to sail his buggy

on the salt flats. He also

organized and hosted the

MAYSA kite fly in Minot.

Always with his trusty

ukulele at his side.

Rollie will be remem-

bered for his mischievous

smile, quiet presence,

trusty coffee mug, and

wonderful sense of

humor.

Rollie’s loving family

includes his wife of 14

years Elaine; children:

Danielle Metz and Brit-

tany (Ron) Gottus; grand-

daughter: Nellijun; moth-

er: Ione Metz; sister:

Leslie (Chuck) Barney;

niece: Kelsey (Zach) Aller;

nephew: Chris Barney;

aunts and uncles: Sharon

and Arnie Briggs, Marilyn

and James Engle, Cleone

and Gordon Roen, Jerry

and Naomi Metz; and

many loving cousins:

mother-in-law: Carrie

Bonavita; in-laws: The

Bonavita, Pendergrass, &

Giordano families. Rollie

is also survived by his lit-

tle lions Raven, Ginger

and Baby Boy.

Rollie was preceded in

death by his father: Rollin

James Metz, and

father-in-law: Michael

Bonavita.

Celebration of the Life

of Rollie Metz: Wednes-

day, August 9, 2017 at

11:00 a.m. in Vincent Un-

ited Methodist Church –

Minot.

Interment will be in the

Garrison Cemetery.

Visitation: Tuesday

from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00

p.m. in Thomas Family

Funeral Home – Minot.

Those wishing to sign

the online memorial regis-

ter or share memories and

condolences are invited to

use the expressions of

sympathy section at

www.thomasfamilyfun-

eralhome.com.