Dennis "Skip" Woodson Rovero

Skip passed away June 12, 2018 due to complications from pneumonia. He was born March 25, 1943 in Glendive, Montana to Marguerite (Woodson) and Dennis Angelo Rovero. The family moved to Great Falls in 1945 and soon expanded with a sister, Susan. As a child, Skip was adept at board games and playing cards, and shared his families’ love of music. He played the piano and trombone and together they enjoyed hundreds of concerts and spending summers at Seeley Lake and in the Swan Valley. Skip graduated from Great Falls High School in 1961 and remained a fervent Bison sports fan throughout his life. Skip was an avid reader and had an exceptional memory. He attended Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota and graduated with a degree in history. His time in college bred a life-long love for Minnesota sports teams and although each year ended in disappointment, he always cheered for the Vikes and the Twins. He returned to Montana and received his Master’s degree in Montana history from the University of Montana under the direction of K. Ross Toole. He loved the Griz. Skip married June Chalfon in 1979 and together they had a daughter, Lorraine (Lori) Anne. Skip adored his daughter and loved watching her grow up and excel in dance. He tried never to miss one of her performances. He also shared his love of music with her and together they enjoyed playing the piano and singing. One of his proudest moments was seeing her graduate from MSU-Billings with a degree in elementary education and pursue a career in teaching. He would say that she was his greatest accomplishment. After six years of teaching, Skip worked in a variety of professions. Most recently, he worked at Easter Seals Goodwill, and retired in 2011 after 21 years. Skip loved his family, watching sports, drinking chocolate milk, calling friends (and friends of friends), and never turned down Howards pizza or a Coke. He was an encyclopedia of obscure sports and historical facts and would often recount play-by-play details. He especially enjoyed being a life-long member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ and its Chancel choir. He had many friends at the church and we know they will all miss his bass voice. His family would like to thank the staff at Benefis for their compassion the last few days and the many special people who cared for Skip. We also want to extend our thanks to the countless friends who made sure that he never missed important events these last few years, with a special thank you for the endless support and love from the Koostra family. We will miss his infectious laugh, hearing his very low renditions of Happy Birthday, ugly Christmas ties, the annual tradition of hiding the hazelnuts and that voice ringing out from the choir. As he got older, looking at Skip was like looking into Grandpa Rovero’s eyes. Skip leaves behind a daughter, Lori Rovero of Billings, sister Susan (Dennis) Dell, niece Katie (Jeremiah) Johnson and a great niece, Estella all of Great Falls. He is also survived by Lori’s mom, June and many wonderful friends. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Rachel, and his parents, Dennis and Marguerite Rovero. Services will be held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2900 9th Avenue South on Saturday, June 23rd at 11:00 a.m.Memorials are suggested to the Church or a charity of the donor’s choice.