Roger Willard Nelson passed away March 1, 2025 after a long battle with prostate cancer. He was born on June 28, 1950, to Lief and Avis Nelson at St. Mary’s Hospital in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.
Roger attended several schools because of his father’s career in the U.S. Air Force. He graduated from Lakenheath American High School at RAF Lakenheath, England, UK, in June 1968.
After meeting Mary Brand in 1969 at Moorhead State College (now Minnesota State University Moorhead), he joined the U.S. Navy and became a dental technician. He and Mary were married on July 25, 1970, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Moorhead, Minnesota. While in the Navy, they adopted their first child, Laura Marie, on September 1, 1972. Two months later they got pregnant, and Jennifer Christine was born on their third anniversary.
Roger was discharged in August 1973, and they moved to Fargo, North Dakota where he started working in the dental field and playing in rock bands. He later graduated from the North Dakota State School of Science (now North Dakota State College of Science) in Wahpeton, North Dakota with a degree in dental hygiene. After working in that field and teaching dental hygiene at the State School of Science, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in psychology and Master of Science Degree in addiction counseling at North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota. He worked in the addiction field for 34 years, with the majority of those years at Chandler Valley Hope in Chandler, Arizona.
He is well known throughout the recovery community since he has been in recovery for 44 years.
He started playing drums in the third grade, following in his father’s footsteps. He played drums and bass guitar in several different rock bands from 1965 until 1983.
Roger and his family moved to Mesa, Arizona, in 1985, and to Queen Creek, Arizona in 2005 where he continued working in the addiction field and played and sang in praise bands for 19 years. He also wrote several songs throughout his lifetime. He and Mary have been members of Ironwood Church since 2013.
Roger and Mary’s favorite thing to do is to have family gatherings in their home or at a nearby park. For many years they loved playing music together, exploring Arizona, and off-roading in the desert. After driving to a remote area of the desert, they would get out of the vehicle and comment on how quiet and peaceful it was. They would find a shady spot, build a campfire and grill steaks, and do some exploring. It was an extra treat if it had rained recently and there was a little flowing stream.
Roger was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer in 2017 and was treated by the Mayo Clinic. His final months were spent under the care of Hospice of the Valley. We love you and miss you dear Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa and Brother. We know you are in our Dear Savior’s arms, and we look forward to a glorious reunion with you in Heaven.
Roger is survived by his wife, Mary, of 54 years; two daughters, Laura Wyant (Jeff) of Apache Junction, Arizona and Jennifer Nelson of Prescott Valley, Arizona; four grandchildren, Lacy Ford (Alex), Morgan Russman (Sam), Sophie Matteson, and John Foley III (Destiny); one great-grandchild, Alii Ford; and two sisters, Shari Gamradt of Sauk Centre, Minnesota and Lisa Thornton of Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Roger’s funeral service will be on Friday, March 14, 2025, at noon at Ironwood Church, 8635 E. Pecos Road in Mesa. There will be a viewing one hour before the service at the church. Following the service, Roger will be laid to rest at San Tan Memorial Gardens at Schnepf Farms, 22425 E. Cloud Road in Queen Creek.
Donations can be made to Hospice of the Valley in Roger Nelson’s name at the following link: Donate.
Arrangements were cared for by San Tan Mountain View Funeral Home.
