Rolland “Buddy” Andrew Specht, 82, Billings, formerly of the Dickinson area, passed away on Friday, October 2, 2026 at Billings Clinic. Rolland’s Celebration of Life Service will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, October 17, 2026 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson. Interment will follow at the Dickinson Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.
Rolland was born in Dodge, North Dakota on August 18, 1944 to John and Emma Specht. He was the fourth of seven kids. From a young age, Rolland helped his parents and siblings tend to their family farm. His chores included feeding the cows, chicken and pigs. His childhood is where his love for horses grew- and this would last his whole life. He began riding as a little boy, along with helping his dad hitch up the drafts horses to tend the fields. He worked on farms until he was a teenager. Around this time is when he started wearing thick black framed glasses- like Buddy Holly- which coined the name “Buddy” that friends and family called him most of his life.
When he was 21 years old, he married Irene Privratsky, in Dickinson, North Dakota on November 22, 1965. They welcomed their first child, Brenda, on January 11, 1966. After Brenda was born, they moved to Billings, MT in 1967. Their second child, Brian, was born in 1967. They lived in Billings, MT and the surrounding areas such as Roundup and Shepherd before finally settling officially in Billings where their third child, Kristie, was born.
Rolland worked for Pierce Packing when first moving to Billings. He later got a job at Transbas where he worked until his retirement. When Rolland wasn’t at work, he was with his horses most of the time as well as growing big, beautiful gardens in the summer, and making carts and buggies. He also enjoyed collecting guns and going shooting. Once in the 70’s, he won a two person race horseback that the other party did not think he could win, this led to a 20 guy brawl that included the local sheriff- much like an old western. Rolland loved watching old westerns.
In 1993, his first grandchild, Ashley, was born. Rolland and Ashley had a special bond since the day she was born and he was able to share his love of horses with her. In 2005, his grandson Kameron was born. He enjoyed taking Kameron on tractor rides. After Rolland finally decided to retire, he just was not a man that was able to sit still so he mowed lawns for neighbors. He would also occasionally help his cousin Randy haul horses across the United States. When his greatest joy, his great granddaughter Demri was born in 2019, he and his wife became her main caretakers while her mom worked. He loved taking Demri on tractor rides, playing in the snow and watching rodeo with her. Demri always said papa Rolland was her “heart”.
Rolland was preceded in death by his parents, John and Emma Specht; his siblings, Pearl Binder, Shirley Lang, Mavis Kainz and Eddie Specht; and grandson-in-law, Shayden Nelson.
He is survived by his wife, Irene Specht; his kids, Brenda Specht, Brian (Brenda) Specht, and Kristie (Kevin) Ball; his grandchildren, Ashley Nelson and Kameron Ball; one great-granddaughter, Demri Nelson; and sisters, Phyllis Stroh and Carolyn DeWall.
Rolland’s family would like to give a big thank you to the doctors, nurses and CNAs at Billings Clinic for the amazing care he received at the end of his life and the support they all provided to the family.
