Roger W. Sidwell

Notes:

Roger Sidwell, 93, died peacefully on Aug. 12, 2017, at Westward Heights Care Center in Lander, Wyo.
Roger was born on Oct. 27, 1923, in Sapulpa, Okla., to Ernest and Frances Mooney Sidwell. Due to his father?s oil drilling company, Roger and his family moved frequently, living in a number of states and Canada, often in less than ideal conditions. They finally settled in Midland, Texas where Roger attended high school.
WWII began shortly after Roger entered Texas A&M. He played football for the Aggies in spite of his small stature. Roger volunteered for the service immediately, but was not called up until the spring of 1943. He became a member of the Army Air Corp and by June of 1944 was flying B24s out of Kumming, China. When he returned to the states, he enrolled at Colorado University.
After graduating in 1948, he followed his brother, Bill, to Cody, Wyo., where they drove tour buses to Yellowstone Park. During his first summer in Wyoming, he worked as a fishing guide on Yellowstone Lake. Later, he met Barbara ?Bobbie? Soulé in Cody and they married in 1949.
Roger was recalled to the Air Force for a reconnaissance mission in 1951 and stationed in Mobile, Ala. He was sent to Georgetown University to study psychological warfare; then on to Indiana University to learn the Turkish language. Roger received several Distinguished Service medals while in the military.
He left the Air Force in 1953, moved back to Cody and worked for Husky Oil as a pilot. Not liking the long hours away from his family, he went to work as the business manager for the Cody school system. In 1962, Roger and Bobbie purchased a guest lodge in Wapiti, Wyo. They ran the Trail Shop for ten years, where they worked as a family with their four children. During his years in Wapiti, he often flew slurry planes to assist with wildfire suppression.
Roger also worked in sales and became a real estate broker for United Farm Agency. He and Bobbie divorced in 1976. Roger then married Lila Vukelich, with whom he spent many happy years traveling, exploring and golfing all over the world.
After retiring, Roger found creative expression through watercolors. He painted hundreds of spectacular landscapes and landmarks, some of which he sold, most he gave away. He built his dream home west of Cody when he was 70 years old. After Lila?s death in 2001, Roger spent his time between Cody and Casa Grande, Ariz., moving to Lander in 2012.
Roger is survived by his children Shawn (Andy) Catsimanes, Kass (Mike) Harrell, Scott (Deanna Matteson) Sidwell, Brian Sidwell, and step-children Mary (Gene) Hodges, Georgene Vukelich, Joe (Chris) Vukelich, Cathy (Rob) Laughner, Milo (Nicole) Vukelich, and by numerous loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Westward Heights for their devoted care of Roger in the final months of his life.
A memorial for Roger will be held in Wapiti, Wyo. (at the Shoshone Bridge, adjacent to the Trail Shop) on Oct. 14 at 2 p.m.

Roger married Barbara Soulé in 1949, and was divorced in 1976. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Roger married Lila Kathleen Rae in 1977. Lila was born on 5 Nov 1927 in Minnewaukan, North Dakota, USA; died on 7 Feb 2001 in Cody, Wyoming, USA; was buried in Riverside Cemetery, Cody, Park County, Wyoming, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]