Rodney (Rod) Eugene Lemieux was born May 17, 1951, in Havre, Montana. He was the second of nine children born to Roy and Viola (Schiff) Lemieux. In 1960, the family moved from Big Sandy to Culbertson. He excelled at basketball and running track and after graduating from Culbertson High School, he attended Minot State University on a basketball scholarship.

On September 11, 1971, he married his high school sweetheart Donna Damm. He then transferred to Eastern Montana College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. Settling in Sidney, Montana, they raised their children, Alisha and BJ. After a successful career in the insurance industry, he spent the next 30 years farming and cherished his time spent in the field with brother-in-law Louis Vournas and lifelong friends, the Salvevold family.

In addition to his professional work, Rod enjoyed serving the community on various boards and civic organizations and very generously helped members of the community behind the scenes. He enjoyed great friendships within the Sidney Fire Department, retiring as Fire Chief.

His greatest joy was spending time with family and friends. He loved following the successes of his kids and grandkids and deeply cherished being “Papa” to his granddaughters. Rod was also an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed camping, boating, and riding trails in the UTV. There were many miles put on the snowmobiles with the family in Yellowstone National Park and the Black Hills. Rod and Donna spent winters in Southern California, and in 2018 went on a dream vacation to Alaska. When not farming he was always busy pursuing his hobbies of lasering and 3D printing.

Rod, surrounded by his family, peacefully passed away July 7, 2025, at Sidney Health Center from complications of cancer. He was 74 years old.

Rod is survived by his wife Donna; daughter Alisha (Ron) Kawlewski; son BJ (Rachel); granddaughters Josie, Jenna (Tre), and Jessie; brothers Jacques (Jan), Lance, Richard (Juanita), and Robin (Sandra); sister Linda Vournas; sister-in-law Irene Lemieux; brother-in-law Ken (Carol) Damm; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends.

Rod was proceeded in death by his parents Roy and Vi, father and mother-in-law Martin and Pauline Damm, brother Mike, sisters Marge and Loretta and brother-in-law Louis Vournas.