Roger’s Obituary Roger Hugh Swain, age 73, died at the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City on March 22, 2019 after a valiant fight with illness incident to Kennedy’s disease. Roger was born January 5, 1946 in Pocatello, ID to Paul and June (Huff) Swain, joining a brother (Larry) and sister (Norma) at the family home near Wayan. He grew up in the Wayan and Soda Springs area, graduating from Soda Springs High School in 1965.
Allegedly, the final leg of Roger’s first trip home to the ranch house as a newborn was in a horse-drawn sleigh. It has been told that the sleigh hit a large snowdrift and overturned, dumping baby Roger into the snow. This story is unconfirmed, but likely explains Roger’s lifelong dislike for winter.
After completing high school, Roger worked various jobs in the local area including: mechanical work at Walt’s American service station, firefighting for the Forest Service, operating equipment in phosphate mines, surveying for Gary Stoor. Roger started working at the Monsanto plant in 1973. He worked in various roles throughout the facility during his career, retiring in 2008 after 35 years of service.
Roger always had a good time with his coworkers and built lifelong friendships with many of them. While working at Walt’s American in December 1969, Roger met a “cute little blonde” from Georgetown. His first date with Colleen Smith was four days later.
Roger and Colleen were married in Georgetown, Idaho on February 4, 1972. They settled in Soda Springs and were joined by another “cute little blonde” when Allyson was born in October 1973. The family was complete when Carter came along in May 1977.
Roger was a loving father and grandfather. His greatest joy was spending time with his family and supporting all of their activities. Their interests became his.
He was a regular fixture at horse show arenas, hunting camp, football fields, dance recitals, cross country courses and basketball gyms where he always had some helpful advice to fervidly share with the referees. Roger had a passion for hunting, fishing and being in the mountains. He passed this to his kids and grandkids.
He was able to harvest his share of nature’s bounty over the years. Roger was filled with joy each time one of the kids was able to take an animal. When each new hunter in the family was preparing for their first big-game hunt, Roger and his brother Larry would preside over their induction ceremony into the exclusive secret society known as the Swain Swine Outfitters.
Roger also loved to snow ski, catch fish (especially with a fly rod) and spend time in the saddle on the back of a good horse. As his mobility became more limited, Roger acquired some new hobbies including: word puzzles, writing in his journal, attending grandchildren’s activities, hunting camp supervisor, arguing with Bird Jensen about religion and politics, drinking coffee from Soda Sip while keeping an eye on all Caribou County happenings through his pickup windshield with Pete Petersen. In fact, we now have an opening for horse pasture patrol if anyone is interested.
Roger possessed an innate ability to relate to and make friends with all people in any situation. He loved to visit with people and he was good at it. As a result, his network of friends extended far and wide.
Everywhere he went – ball games, horse shows, the mall, county fairs – Roger could be found solving world problems with a friend or someone he just met. He had a healthy sense of humor and loved to laugh. You could tell when his funny bone had been tickled by the way his upper lip would curl and quiver as he laughed.
We are sad that our dear husband, father, grandpa, uncle, cousin and friend is no longer physically with us. We miss him. However, we are thrilled that he is no longer restrained by the encumbrances of his body.
He is now free to hunt, fish and ski as he pleases. He will be remembered always as a true “character” who loved us all. Roger is preceded in death by his parents Paul and June Swain, and by his nephew Corey Swain.
He is survived by his wife Colleen, daughter Allyson (Jason) Cunningham, son Carter (Janna), grandsons Garet Cunningham, Isaac Cunningham and Zach Swain, granddaughter Hallie Swain, brother Larry (Marilyn) Swain, sister Norma Walker, several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends at a visitation prior to the Memorial service on Saturday, March 30 beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Sims Funeral Home in Soda Springs. The Memorial service will begin at noon at the Funeral Home.
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