William LeRoy "Bill" Roper, 70, of Guthrie, OK, died on Sunday, Dec. 17, of heart failure, at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Oklahoma City, OK.
Cremation rites were accorded. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Corbett Funeral Home in Oklahoma City, OK is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Roper was born on Oct. 2, 1946, in Hillsboro, to Kenneth and Jessie (Isaacs) Roper. He married Shirley Walder on March 14, 1970, in Holton, KS, and they later divorced.
During his career, he served in the U.S. Air Force in Tripoli, Libya, from 1966 to 1970. After his service, he managed Limestone Springs Ranch in Soldier, KS for 11 years. He went on to live and work on ranches in California, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. In April 2010, he retired from the National Parks Service as a maintenance supervisor at Scottsbluff National Monument in Scottsbluff, NE.
Mr. Roper served as a 4-H leader for Pleasant Valley Rustlers Club and beef superintendent for the Jackson County 4-H clubs. He also volunteered for the Soldier Fire Department.
In 1994, he was a founding member of the Salmon Valley String Band in Salmon, ID, and the band continues playing bluegrass music today.
Mr. Roper spent his remaining years living near Guthrie, OK, playing music and singing, enjoying family, and living the simple life.
He is survived by two daughters, Tammi (Bryan) Mitchell of Ulysses, KS and Tara (Jeff) Ripperger of Coweta, OK; four grandchildren, Keenan Mitchell of Denver, CO, Kylie Mitchell of Ulysses, KS and Camden and Gracen Ripperger of Coweta, OK; four sisters, Donna Roper of Hillsboro, Bonnie Barrow of Texas, Marylee Kennedy of Tennessee and Sue Wagoner of Washington; three brothers, Jim Roper of California, Tom Roper of Illinois and Ron Roper of California; as well as many nieces, nephews, other family and friends.
Mr. Roper was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorials may be sent to Salmon Valley String Band or Palliative Care Unit Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs, either may be sent in care of Tammi Mitchell, 2298 N. Road I, Ulysses, KS 67880.
