Roger Lund Tucker

Roger Lund Tucker, our beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away on March 5, 2022 surrounded by his family.  He was born October 1, 1932 to Anthon Lund and Vivian Madsen Tucker in Price, Utah.  Along with his older sister and younger brother, Roger enjoyed the freedom and independence afforded by small town life.  Even in recent years, he loved to return to Price and Hiawatha where he spent his early youth.

The family moved to Salt Lake City during Roger’s fifth grade year.  In the city his love for adventure, mischief and fun grew.  He loved riding his bike all across the valley and knew every back street and alley from the Zoo to the Capital to the Great Salt Lake.  To quote dad, all these adventures added up to the “Fruits of a Misspent Youth”   His youthful stories and forever remembered jokes were constantly shared within his family circle and often came with an “Oh Roger” from Beth before he could finish. 

He graduated from South High in 1951 and began his studies in the fall at the University of Utah.  He found joy being surrounded by friends and took full advantage of college life.  He joined the Air Force ROTC, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Social Studies and later returned to school to complete a Master’s degree in Education Administration.  During these years as a Utah Man, he met and married Leta Beth Stewart in the Salt Lake Temple on June 18, 1954. Following graduation, he completed Air Force Pilot training and was assigned to Roswell, New Mexico where he was on a bomber crew flying B-47’s.  Roger retired from active duty at Beth’s request, and they returned to Salt Lake where he began his career in Education.  He later served in the Air Force Reserves at Hill Field and flew C-119’s and C-124’s.

He taught history at Roosevelt and Clayton Junior High Schools. Roger had a positive attitude and a delightful sense of humor that made connecting with his students easy.  He found great joy in seeing young people achieve their goals, and his greatest satisfaction came when students beat the odds and changed the course of their lives. He was a counselor at Highland High where he loved working with the students involved in Student Government. He worked as a Principal at Jordan Junior High and Vice Principal at West High, Highland High and Horizonte Community High.  He retired after 36 years with the Salt Lake School District.

A lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Roger joyfully served in numerous callings including multiple Bishoprics and Priesthood Quorums.  It is not surprising however, that he spent much of his time serving with the youth. He was no stranger to trek, youth outings, river runs and camps. He loved to take his tuxedo on all excursions and always had a unique and fun approach to teaching the Gospel. His faith and enduring optimism were exemplary. He truly believed his oft repeated comment, “Isn’t life great?”

He found his greatest joy with his family.  His age never slowed him down.  You could find him skiing with his children and great grandchildren, golfing with his grandsons, bowling in a weekly league and telling his favorite jokes and stories of his childhood at weekly Sunday gatherings.  A self-proclaimed tinkerer, Roger was always building something.  He loved serving others and found himself volunteering at the neighborhood carnival, serving in the Temple and helping friends.

His greatest act of service was in the last few years of Beth’s life as he diligently cared for her as her health and mind declined.  This gave him great joy and purpose.  The two years following the death of his sweetheart were filled with checking off his bucket list items:  A safari trip to Kenya, a helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon and a planned cruise through the Panama Canal kept him forever moving forward.  While he will be missed, we know he and Beth are happily reunited.

Roger is preceded in death by his parents, sister Dawna Vee Mathews and brother Ted Clifton Tucker.  He is survived by his daughters Kari (Jon) Sharp and Joni (Alan) Hansen.  Eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.   Funeral Services are under the direction of Holbrook Mortuary.  A viewing will be held on Thursday March 10th from 6 until 8 pm at the East Millcreek 6th Ward House on 3103 East Craig Drive, Salt Lake City.  Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday March 11th at the same location.  A viewing will also be held from 10:00 to 10:45am prior to the service. Interment will take place Monday at 3 PM in the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.