Spotlight ! (for ward newsletter)

Where were you born and raised?

We have both lived in Morgan our entire lives.  We were high school sweethearts and have been married 41 years.  We bought Roger’s Uncle Don’s home/farm, and have loved living in Richville.  Our first home was built up on the hill where Ed and Sharlene Olsen live now.  We love it here in Morgan.

Tell us about your family.

We have 4 children, and 9 grandchildren. Our first baby girl died in a car accident many years ago, she would have been 40.  We were both so young when this happened, and the years looming ahead of us until we would see her again seemed so far away.  Now we are getting older, and the time is getting closer, and we look forward to that day.  Families are Forever ! Our second daughter  Amanda and her family live in Chandler, Arizona.  Zac and his family live here in Morgan, and Landon and his family live in West Haven. 

When did your family move to Morgan?

Roger grew up in Porterville.  Ben and LuAnn Rich are his parents.  He had many fun adventures as a kid.  I’ve got to write a book about all of them, our grandkids LOVE hearing the stories.  I grew up in Morgan City.  Lee and Veloy Dickson are my parents, and they now live over on the other side of the valley on Hwy 66.  Our pioneer ancestors, the Porter, Peterson, Dickson, Rich, and Tonks families helped to settle this great Morgan Valley.

What activities or traditions do you enjoy?

We love to work and play together as a family.  We helped Zac and CJ build their house (after having built two of our own homes), and we love to work and play at Mom and Dad’s “Property”, down next to East Canyon Creek behind their home.

We had an enjoyable trip to Denver to watch our favorite team, the St. Louis Cardinals play the Rockies with Landon’s family a couple of months ago, and we are always up for a trip to Arizona to visit with Manda’s family.

I love to take pictures, and have created many fun photo books for our family.  I also have kept up a “Blog” for the past 12 years, where our family life is documented.  It’s a great journal.

What was or is your career or livelihood?

Roger worked for Hostess for years before the company closed.  He is now retired, and has started his own yard care business.  I have worked at the Morgan County Assessor’s Office for many years, and I enjoy working and meeting with property owners.  I find it very interesting and rewarding.

What is something that you have experienced that very few people know about?

A few years ago, when our kids were younger, we did a lot of snowmobiling with a group of friends here in Morgan.  Those were FUN FUN times.

We enjoy our little barnyard menagerie, and raised 6 bottle fed pygmy goats a couple of years ago, along with our pot-bellied pig, Miss Piggy.  Life is good.

If you could visit any place or anyone where or who would it be?

We are a pretty “boring” couple, I guess.  We don’t travel too much, but did get the chance to visit the Philippines TWICE while Landon and his family were working and living there, and I also traveled to Peru with Landon after his mission.  I would love to go back to Peru someday, and see the wonderful people again.

Visiting New York City and seeing the sights, and also Europe are on MY bucket list, but not Roger’s.  He’d just as soon stay home.

Lifetime achievements?

Staying married ! (haha) – and our kids.  They are all wonderful, hard working, good people.  We are so blessed !