Buxton, Maine - Saturday, March 30, 2024, Roger Merrill Anderson, 77, passed away peacefully with family by his side.
Roger was born in Vanport City, OR on March 21, 1947, to Merrill and Evangeline (Borchardt) Anderson.
He graduated from New Salem High School in New Salem, ND in 1966. After high school Roger worked for Burlington Northern Railroad as a welder. Working on the railroad brought him to North Idaho where he continued his work as a welder at the Sunshine (silver) Mine in Kellogg, and eventually became the lead diesel mechanic. It was there he met the love of his life, Colleen Nyborg.
When the mine would shut down, or go on strike, Roger would work in the sawmills. In 1984 he attended North Idaho College where he learned log cabin building. He returned to NIC for carpentry in 1993.
In his younger days he was active in his church where he enjoyed leading music. He was also a licensed preacher for the Nazarene Church in 1975.
Some of Roger’s favorite things to do were hiking, eating, and lifting weights. One of his favorite hikes was up Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. A dream of his and Colleen’s was to hike the Appalachian Trail together.
His children each have special memories with their dad. Viki got her love of Elvis from her dad. Her first memory of seeing Elvis was watching him on tv together. She remembers her dad’s Elvis impersonations and his infectious laughter.
Nikki remembers how he taught her and all her siblings to stand up for themselves. No matter how down someone was, he would start popping off jokes and being silly. He could always cheer everyone up.
Scott fondly remembers their ‘second suppers.’ His dad would quietly take him and his brother Bryan out for some good food before going home to family supper. He’d tell them “when we get back to the house, you know you’re going to have to eat, right?” And that whenever we needed him he was always there to help.
Bryan always looked up to him. He loved his happy nature and how he could make a joke out of anything. He is happy to have inherited a lot of his dad’s mannerisms and will always think of him when he acts goofy.
Jason is grateful for the memories he has riding with his dad up Canary Creek or Hardy Gulch to get firewood with a dashboard full of snacks and the radio blasting the latest hits. They even got matching tattoos that represent those days.
Roger made friends wherever he went. He had a heart of gold, and loved to make people laugh.
Roger was predeceased by both of his parents, his great-grandson Carson Abey, and his partner of 16 years, Colleen Nyborg.
He is survived by his two daughters Viki Yaeger of Sandpoint, ID, and Nikki Thompson and her husband, Charlie, of Sagle, ID; three sons, Scott Abey and Bryan Abey, both of Sagle, ID, and Jason Anderson and his wife, Stacy, of Buxton, ME; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and his brother Duane “Andy” Anderson and his wife, Gloria, of Aberdeen, SD.
Celebrations of Life will be held in both Maine and Idaho this spring and summer. Precise dates are to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton, www.mainefuneral.com