Walter William "Bill" Roper, passed away February 21, 2025 from complications ofdementia.

Born March 31, 1945, to Evelyn Allen Roper, he was the middle child of 7 children.His early years were spent working hard on the family farm, feeding livestock, milkingcows, bailing hay and irrigating crops. These duties instilled in him the value of hard workwhich he carried with him his whole life.

He attended American Falls high school and participated in many sports, includingtrack, football and basketball and was elected student body president during his senioryear. He attended the University of Idaho in Moscow where he ran track and played aseason of spring football. He was a reporter for the college newspaper "The Argonaut",and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism.

In 1969 he met Patricia Morgan. They were married in 1970 in Elko, Nevada. Together,they were a great team. Bill & Patricia were very devoted to one another and were truepartners throughout their 54 years together. Their household was one of laughter andlove. They valued the closeness of their family with frequent gatherings of the extendedmembers. He loved snow & water skiing, and bowling. He devoured maps anddelighted in driving through the wilderness of Idaho to discover something he readabout. He simply wanted to take a picture of it for himself! He became a mastercraftsman, and with the watchful eye and help of his father-in-law, Vaughn Morgan, Billbuilt a home on Sunbeam Road. This project resulted in not only a house in which theylived for many years, but also a life-long love of carpentry.

One of his favorite memories was the "Spook Alley" for Halloween. He eagerlyvolunteered, alongside his daughter Alison. The first was constructed in the originalAmerican Falls hospital. This was the same hospital in which he was born. The irony ofthat was not lost on him.

Bill worked for 20 years at Power County Grain Growers as the co-op manager. Heserved on the Idaho State Grain Dealer Association Board. He served as chairman ofAmerican Falls school district board. In 2001, he & Patricia moved to Grangeville, IDas manager of Union Warehouse & Supply. He could always be counted on to showup, document the details and encourage people to take action.

Bill was an enthusiastic adventurer & traveler. In the early 1990's he was given theopportunity to travel to Russia, shortly after Glasnost. He was tasked with educating theRussian people about grain storage. He described it as the "trip of a lifetime." He alsoenjoyed trips with his family to Mexico, Canada & Washington D.C. Always thejournalist, he was armed with a camera. He loved photography of all things. Old barns,grain silos, construction projects, railroads (real and model) and monuments were someof his favorite subjects. He filled volumes of photo albums, preserving many memories.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia, son Jason, daughters Valorie; Alison, siblingsJackie Kildew, Patricia Spiker, Bonnie Anderson, Lance Roper, and Janelle Roper,grandchildren Ryne, Aidan, Vaughn and Finley.

Bill was a devoted spouse, a patient loving father, and always appreciated a goodlaugh. Even though he struggled in his later years with the debilitating effects ofdementia, he never lost his sense of humor. He was always curious about the worldand how he could do his part to document and fix things that weren't working correctly.Our hearts are now heavy, but our lives are blessed for having had him in it.