Roger L. Baisch, 77, passed away on September 7, 2026, in Kennewick, Washington, leaving behind a family he was immensely proud of, lifelong friendships, and a legacy of hard work, generosity and service to his community.

Roger was born in Rupert, Idaho, to Veeta Ward Roberts and Virgil Olson. After his parents divorced, Roger was adopted and raised by Eugene “Gene” Baisch, the man he knew as his dad and whose name he carried throughout his life. He grew up alongside his three younger sisters, Lisa Bowlin, Becky Dean and Shelley Evans.

One of the qualities that defined Roger appeared early in life: if someone needed help, you helped them. His mother, Veeta, used to say that as a boy Roger would bring home kids from school who needed a meal. That instinct to make room for people and look out for others never really left him.

Roger was a cowboy at heart and a doer by nature. Rarely seen without his cowboy hat and boots, he approached life with a “Git-r-done” attitude. If something needed fixing, organizing or figuring out, Roger was usually willing to take it on.

Underlying that approach was what Roger thought of as the “Cowboy Way”: work hard, keep your word, help people when you can, and live with integrity. They were values he tried to live by, lead by example, and pass along to his children, grandchildren and others whose lives he influenced.

That determination was evident in the business he built. Roger founded Baisch Vegetation Management in 1994 and took great pride in the company and the reputation he built through years of hard work. Its motto, “The proof is in the performance,” fit Roger well. He believed that ultimately it was the work you did—not what you said about it—that mattered. His commitment to agriculture and leadership also led him to participate in Washington’s AgForestry Leadership Program as a member of Class 15.

Roger served in the United States National Guard from 1968 to 1974, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6) with Company H of the 116th Armored Cavalry, where he served as a tank commander.

Horses, livestock and the cowboy way of life were part of Roger’s story from the beginning. Growing up on a small farm in southern Idaho, he was involved in 4-H and FFA, and livestock and the Fair were important parts of his youth. Years later, after moving to the Tri-Cities and bringing his own children to the Benton Franklin Fair, Roger was drawn back to that same sense of community and decided it was his turn to give back.

That decision became decades of service. Roger spent 18 years on the Benton Franklin Fair Board, including two terms as president. His involvement extended well beyond the board, from managing livestock for the Horse Heaven Round-Up Rodeo and overseeing the Fair parade to taking on health and safety responsibilities to protect fairgoers. In 2007, his contributions were recognized when he was named a Benton Franklin Fair Booster of the Year.

Roger also spent 21 years with the Benton-Franklin Mounted Sheriff’s Posse. His involvement extended beyond the local organization, and he served as president of the Washington State Sheriff’s Posse Association from 1994 to 1998.

For Roger, volunteering wasn’t about titles or recognition. It was about showing up, doing the work and leaving something worthwhile for the people who came after him. When friends or community members were going through difficult times, Roger helped organize fundraisers and rallied others to lend a hand. The boy who brought kids home who needed a meal grew into a man who still believed that when somebody needed help, you did something about it.

Friendships were incredibly important to Roger. Some began in high school and lasted the rest of his life, with friends still calling, visiting and sharing stories decades later. He continued making friends throughout his life—through work, horses, the Fair and rodeo, and simply by being someone who valued the people around him. He had many people in his life whom he considered very special and cared deeply about those relationships.

Roger worked hard, but he also knew how to enjoy life. He loved country music, particularly when it was played live, and enjoyed going out to hear local bands and spend time with friends. Later in life, Roger became a snowbird, spending winters in Arizona, where he found another community of friends who shared his enjoyment of sunshine, conversation, good company and, of course, live music.

Of all the things Roger was proud of, his family ranked at the top. He was the father of two children, Granddad to five grandchildren, and great-granddad to one great-granddaughter. But “Granddad” wasn’t a title reserved only for family by blood or marriage. Over the years, other special young people became part of Roger’s extended family and came to know and love him as Granddad, too.

Roger enjoyed sharing his own traditions with the next generation, especially trips to the Fair and rodeo and his love of horses. But he showed up for their interests, too. He was never much of a sports guy, yet he became a familiar sight at soccer and football games. In stands filled with team colors and athletic gear, Granddad was easy to spot—usually the only cowboy in the crowd, wearing his cowboy hat and boots and doing his best to follow the action. He may not have understood every call, but he understood that it mattered to the kids he loved.

Roger’s life can be measured by the business he built, the organizations he led and the decades he gave to his community. But perhaps a better measure is found in the people around him: the childhood friend who was still a friend more than half a century later; the person who needed help and knew Roger would lend a hand; the family members and friends who knew they mattered to him; and generations who learned something from the way Roger lived.

Roger is survived by his children, Kami Lowry and Kirk Baisch; his grandchildren, Ryan Lowry, Aaron Lowry, Brooke Baisch, Mina Roth and Enzo Roth; his great-granddaughter, Ava Lowry; his sisters, Lisa Bowlin, Becky Dean and Shelley Evans; and an extraordinary circle of friends collected over a lifetime.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Veeta Ward Roberts; his father, Eugene “Gene” Baisch; and his biological father, Virgil Olson.

A Celebration of Life for Roger will be held at 2:00 p.m. on October 3, 2026, at the Benton-Franklin Fairgrounds. In a fitting tribute to Roger and his love of live music, family and friends are invited to stay and enjoy live music from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. A second celebration will be held in Idaho, with details to be announced.

Roger spent a lifetime showing up—for his family, his friends and his community. His cowboy hat may be missing from the crowd now, but the impact of the man underneath it will remain.

Git-r-done, Roger. A job well done.