Roger Neal Beck

Roger Neal Beck passed away peacefully October 5, 2021. Roger was born April 7, 1933, to Clayton J. Beck and Stella Hansen Beck in Nephi, Utah. After Roger was born, a neighbor told Stella she was now worth a million dollars, Dad was worth a million to our families.

Roger and his older brother Ronald grew up in a loving home until his father got very sick and died when he was 6 years old. Stella moved to Sandy, Utah to continue her teaching career and raised Ronald and Roger in a little duplex she bought. Stella raised the boys in Sandy where they had many friends. Roger was a Jr. High Cheerleader, in high school he found his love for cars, trucks, airplanes; most anything with a motor.

One day during his senior year of high school Roger came home and informed his mother that he and a friend took the bus downtown and signed up for the Army National Guard. Soon after high school graduation he headed to Georgia to boot camp. While there a friend told him that Louise Hamilton would like to date him.
Roger and Louise became best friends for life. They were married February 18, 1953, in Riverton, Utah and later sealed in the St. George Temple. Roger changed his military service to the Air Force and was stationed at Nellis Air Force base near Las Vegas, Nevada. There he was an airplane mechanic on the planes that dropped the test bombs in the west desert.

This was a time where Roger and Louise had to learn to depend on each other; they had no family around. Their love of being together lasted their entire marriage; the last 4 months have been very lonely for Dad.

Roger and Louise raised 6 children and were given the wonderful blessing to be Grandparents of 22 and Great Grandparents of 62. The Great Grandchildren loved to kiss Grandpa or give him high-fives just to hear the funny sounds he would make. They loved it so much they would do it again and again just to hear the sounds. They were both loved by the little ones.

Dad built a swimming pool in the backyard and all the family enjoyed it for countless summers. Mom and Dad even enjoyed an occasional skinny dip on a warm summer evening!

Roger was an example of enduring to the end; his leg muscles grew weaker each year and took away the active life he loved. He never complained and just adjusted the way he did things. He continued to take care of his yard and pool until the last few years. He was such an example of independence even under very difficult circumstances.

Roger loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ and enjoyed serving the Lord. His various callings included ward clerk, Sunday school presidency, the Elder’s Quorum teacher and serving as a host missionary at the Joseph Smith Building for 16 years with his beloved wife. In the last few months, he enjoyed family and visits from friends, ward members, and the young men who would bring the sacrament to his home.

Roger is preceded in death by his wife Louise Hamilton Roach, father Clayton J. Beck, mother Stella Hansen Beck and sister-in-law Carol (Rich) Calder.

He is survived by his brother Ronald (Rosalie), children: Boyd (Laura), Steven, (Cindey), Shelley (Kevin) Nudd, Stacey (Chuck) Turner, Garth (Sharon), Brent (Nicole), Sister-in-law Lois (Stewart) Francom and his many grandchildren and great grandchildren, all of whom will miss him with great passion.

Funeral Services will be held Thursday, October 14, 2021, at 11:00 am, at the Alta Heights ward building, 1500 East 8600 South. Viewings will be held Wednesday, October 13, 2021, at Larkin Sunset Gardens 1950 East Dimple Dell Road from 6 to 8 pm and 10:00 to 10:40 on Thursday prior to the funeral service.

Interment will take place immediately following the service at Riverton Cemetery, 1500 West 13200 South, Riverton.

Due to a recent COVID+ diagnosis within the family, masks and social distancing are strongly encouraged.