Roger Kent Fetzer

Roger Kent Fetzer was born March 13, 1945, in Rupert, Idaho, to Albert and Dorothea Hieb Fetzer. He spent his early years on the family farm where he pitched in with many duties including working in the fields and helping with the milk cows. He liked to recall those days on the farm and the fun he had there. He attended primary grades in Rupert and graduated from Minico High School in 1963. He then joined the United States Army stationed one year in Germany and one year in Vietnam. There he served as a helicopter mechanic. During his service in Vietnam he earned the Silver Star for gallantry in action when he was flown into a hot zone to repair a downed helicopter all the while under enemy fire.

After leaving the service, Roger returned to the Rupert area where he worked for the JR Simplot Company driving truck. He spent the next years of his life driving big rig trucks for various firms including Idaho Milk and Moose Meadows Trucking in conjunction with his brother Art. He logged millions of accident-free miles throughout the United States and often talked about the adventures and discoveries of his truck driving days.

Roger enjoyed the outdoors--fishing and hunting--especially with his brothers. But his real love was flying. He earned his pilot's license while still in high school and eventually rose to the position of licensed flight instructor. Even after his health no longer permitted him to fly for real, he continued to enjoy the experience by using his flight simulator set up in the comfort of his home at Cottonwood Cove in Pocatello. He read widely and spent many hours studying the Bible and ancient lore. Roger was a Christian and loved the Lord.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Lee Arlen, one sister-in-law Bridget Birmingham Fetzer and his daughter Becky. He is survived by three brothers and one sister: Delane Fetzer of Rupert, Art and Debbie (Russell) Fetzer of Heyburn, Clayton and Karen (Connor) Fetzer of Burley and George and Carol Fetzer Wise of Pocatello. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews.

A special thanks to the staff of Cottonwood Cove for their many kindnesses and overwhelming generosity during his residence there, to Blazing Grace Ministries, and the Veteran's Home of Pocatello for the compassionate care he received.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 3, 2014 at Wilks Funeral Home 211 W. Chubbuck Road. Family will greet friends at a visitation one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Interment will follow in the Riverside Cemetery in Heyburn, Idaho. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.wilksfuneralhome.com.