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Roger was born on December 17, 1945 in Allegan, Michigan to Delbert and Agnes Welch, the last of their three children. He and Patty McNamara started kindergarten together and after twelve years of close friendship and deepening love, they graduated in the same class of 1964 in Gobles, Michigan. He attended Northern Michigan University where he played football. With the call of Uncle Sam sounding loudly in 1966, he and Pat were married. The Army sent them to Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs where they spent two years. Following discharge from the Army, he took a leap of faith and accepted a ranch hand position in southern Utah at Boulder King Ranch where he learned the true Old West cowboy way. While in Utah, he started his family. Subsequent manager positions presented themselves in Michigan and Iowa. In 1980, he and his family moved to his father's childhood home state, Oklahoma, to Fairfax where they settled into their last and forever Salt Creek home.
He loved fishing with his friends and kids, riding Buck, Toad and Brownie over the years, training many cow dogs, hunting, playing poker, checking his cattle for hours on end and most of all, assisting Ag kids with their hog projects. He was generous with his time and helped anyone in need.
Being a Believer, Roger communicated his love, trust and praise for his Maker from the seat of his feed truck, saddle of his horse or cab of a John Deere farm machine. Being in the hay business, his two most frequently uttered and fervent prayers were, "Please God, make it rain" and "Please God, don't let it rain." He knew how blessed he was in his life and expressed daily the wonder of the earth and abundant wealth of friends who will forever miss him, as well as dedicated health care workers who did their best to heal him.
Roger passed peacefully at Fairfax Community Hospital on June 2, 2022 after spending precious days at home with his devoted wife, attentive family who he was so proud of, and close buddies, all of whom he called, "My best friend." He knew they were all praying for him, managing his business affairs while he was unable, trying to carry on and faithfully making plans for the future.
Roger is survived by his wife, Pat, son Kyle and Brenda Welch, daughter, Monica Welch and Anthony Davis. Grandchildren include J.C. Woods, Mara Woods, Bradley Woods, Kendra Boone, Hailey Welch and Kyanne Welch. To these offspring, fourteen great-grandchildren were born, all of whom will remember their great grandpa with fondness and a little dose of fear. In addition, Roger's brother Richard Welch and sister Ann Holland survive, along with many nieces, nephews, sister-in-law Linda Welch, sister-in-law Sue Mikesell and brother-in-law, Mike McNamara.
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