Roger Arpan

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Roger Arpan, age 63 of Spearfish and Alzada MT, died Friday, July 3^rd, 2020 at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.

Services will be held 10:30am Friday, July 10^th, 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 8^th 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

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