Roger Connors

Roger Lee Connors, age 80, of Orem, Utah, passed away Sunday, December 20, 2015. He was surrounded by his loving and grateful family for whom he had faithfully lived and served all his days. Dad, we love you and share the fondest memories of our life with you. We joy in your peace and look forward to our eternal reunion. Roger was born July 12, 1935 in Berkley, CA to George A. and Florence Josephine (Dolly) Anderson Connors. In 1943 his family moved to Bandon, OR where he completed his childhood and graduated from high school in 1953 with letters in football, basketball and baseball. In October 1955 he was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and a year later he baptized his mother and sister-in-law. His membership in the Church would be the center of his life going forward. In the fall of 1956 he began studies at BYU where he would eventually complete a Bachelor's degree in History and a Master's of Counseling. He served an LDS mission to the Central Atlantic States from 1957-1959. A month following his return from a mission Roger was drafted into the US Army, training at Fort Ord, CA and Fort Gordon, GA then serving two years in Germany. Following military service Roger met his eternal companion, Ronelda Lee Riley, and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple December 15, 1961. In the fall of 1963 he began his career teaching religion in the LDS Church Educational System (CES) where he would be a seminary principal, write church-wide home study curriculum, launch the Seminary Home Study program for the South New Zealand Mission and finished his teaching career, serving 19 years as instructor and Associate Director, at the LDS Institute at Utah Valley Community College. Roger and Ronelda have nine children: Scott (Lori), Staci, Blair (Jenie), Darren (Jen), Kirk (Anne), Jared (Jessica), Alicia (Ken), Corinn-dec'd, Riley (Layna); 29 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 26, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS Hillcrest 8th Ward chapel located at 1035 S 800 E, Orem, UT. There will be a viewing at the chapel prior to services from 9:00-10:45 a.m. Interment will be in the Orem City Cemetery.

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