Roger Arpan, age 63 of Spearfish and Alzada MT, died Friday, July 3rd, 2020 at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.
Services will be held 10:30am Friday, July 10th, 2020 at Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche.
Visitation will take place at the funeral home 5 to 7pm Thursday, and at 6pm there will be time of sharing memories and stories, which is open to the public.
Interment will take place in Pine Slope Cemetery.
Memorials are preferred to the Rangeland Ministries Church, Alzada Community Hall, or the Alzada Fire Department.
Roger Lawrence Arpan was born September 10, 1956 in Belle Fourche. He was the son of Robert Duane and Karen Gay (Hedges) Arpan. Roger grew up on the family ranch near Alzada Montana, where he attended school through the 8th grade. In 1975 he graduated from Carter County High School in Ekalaka MT. Roger graduated from the Vo – Tech school in Helena where he studied computers. Following his graduation, he moved to Phoenix AZ where he worked for Triple A. In 1980 he came home to Alzada, where he worked for the highway department, as well as the Gene Walker farm and ranch and his parent’s ranch. For the past several years he has lived in Spearfish.
When Roger was born, he came into the world two months early, weighing 4 pounds, 10 ounces. He was born with Cerebral Palsy and he wasn’t given much hope to live a very long life. But God had different plans for Roger. Roger was born with a stubborn will that helped him overcome many obstacles in life, and God gave him purpose in life. He was an overcomer and no matter what the obstacle, Roger had determination to face it head on. He was an example of what it meant to have courage and he taught many people in life that no matter the circumstance, with courage and fight anyone can overcome an obstacle. Roger had a great personality and sense of humor. To know him was to love him, and he knew a lot of people. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Roger is survived by his parents, Robert and Gay Arpan of Alzada MT; brother, Randy (Terry) Arpan of Alzada MT; aunts, Barbara (Dave) Brence of Ekalaka MT, Tam Lyn Hedges of Aladdin WY; nieces and nephews; and his long-time friend, Lucy Estrada of Spearfish. He was preceded in death by his infant sister, Karen Lea; uncle, Chip Hedges; and grandparents, Lawrence and Ellen Arpan and Max and Zelzo Hedges.
“The Overcomer”
Born with a purpose
Not many could see
To inspire and display courage
God made Roger to be
Since the time he was born
The battles were never done
First the Palsy, then the surgeries
But the pain never won
Because Roger was a fighter
His courage was seen by many
He never would let obstacles
Keep him down in the valley
Now he’s home in heaven
His battles are over
Let us never forget this man
Who defined, “Overcomer”
And when I face life’s trials
And I start to feel bitter
I’ll remember a man named Roger
I’ll never be a quitter
~ by Mark Leverington ~
Celebration of Life
10:30 A.M. – Friday – July 10, 2020
Leverington Funeral Home
of the Northern Hills
Belle Fourche, South Dakota
Officiant
Mark Leverington
Special Music
“Farther Along” – Debra Leverington
“May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You”,
“Beyond the Sunset” – Jack Owen
Casketbearers
Lindy Bartlett Clair Ludwig
Merlin Christofferson John Pierce
Chip Dye Chuck Waterland
Norman Hendrickson Richard Webster
Interment
Pine Slope Cemetery
Belle Fourche, SD
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Roger Arpan, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
Thursday, July 9, 2020
5:00 - 7:00 pm (Mountain time)
Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills
Friday, July 10, 2020
Starts at 10:30 pm (Mountain time)
Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills
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