Roger William Blake, age 66, passed away quietly on Thursday, May 31, 2018, with family by his side, after a valiant battle with heart failure.
Roger was born in Salt Lake City on March 19, 1952, to DeLaun Blake and Willhelmena Waldorf Blake. He grew up in Bennion on the family dairy farm. He graduated from Kearns High School in 1970, then served a mission for the LDS church in the Manitoba-Minnesota Mission. He played football at Ricks College where he met his wife, Leeann Merrill. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on Sept. 17, 1976. They had five children and raised them in Erda, Utah. He taught them the value of hard work by establishing and running a successful sod farm, and what he proudly referred to as “the largest trucking company in central Erda!”
His favorite hobbies included hunting, camping, four-wheeling, motorcycle riding, shooting and exploring, all with his family. He developed a pond and park on his property where he could fish with his grandkids. He loved teaching them how to cast and fish.
He served in many church callings for the LDS church: Bishropic, Sunday School and working with youth. His greatest joy was spending time with his family. He spent much of his time traveling to attend events his grandchildren were in.
He loved farming, and through his hard work ethic, built a successful sod and trucking business from the ground up. Roger was always willing to serve and help others in whatever capacity he could. One of Roger’s greatest traits was laughing and joking with anyone and had a way of quickly making lifelong friends. Roger enjoyed life. Through his eyes even the simple and ordinary were extraordinary and cherished.
He is survived by his wife, Leeann, and his five children: Jessica (Chance) Stewart, Annalyn (Eric) Clay, Merrill (Jane) Blake, Randall Blake and Ryan (Liza) Blake; his sister Vida Michael (Paul) Frieden; brother Dee (Allison) Blake; his self-adopted sister Chris Connelly; and nine grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his grandson, Andrew Blake Clay.
His funeral will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2018, at 11 a.m. at the new Erda Stake Center on 1050 W. Erda Way, in Erda, with a viewing from 9:30-10:30 a.m. There will also be a viewing there on Friday, June 8, from 6-8 p.m. Interment will be at the Memorial Estates Cemetery on 6500 S. Redwood Road.