March 15, 1925 – Jan. 19, 2017
“Bum” was born in Arbon Valley to Rex Marion Roper and Madeline Lilly England Roper. He was the oldest of nine children.
Bum was raised in Arbon Valley until he finished eighth grade. The family then moved to American Falls, where Bum went to high school. In 1943 he joined the U.S. Navy and served in the South Pacific aboard the USS Herald of the Morning. When the war ended he came back to American Falls and married Betty Jean Roy in 1947.
Bum went to work for the Idaho Transportation Department and became the highway superintendent for the Soda Springs division of state highways until his retirement in 1984.
He and Betty moved back to American Falls to be near their daughter, Linda, and son-in-law Pete Nelson, their granddaughter Erika (Joe) Ingersoll, and their great-grandsons, Clay Roper Ingersoll and Peter Ross Ingersoll.
Betty passed away in 2002 after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer and Bum would say he looked forward to seeing her again.
He was a member of American Falls Lodge #58 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons for 51 years.
Bum was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; sisters, Dorothy, Lois, Jerry and Dixie; and his parents, Rex and Maggie. He is survived by sisters, Mary Moss, Lola Luckchuck, Susie Brewster; and brother, Jim; and his daughter Linda (Pete) Nelson; his granddaughter, Erika (Joe) Ingersoll; and two great-grandsons, Clay Ingersoll and Ross Ingersoll.
As per his wishes, there will be no services.
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