Dennis Jensen Roberts

Dennis Roberts, 70, passed away August 24, after a short but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Dennis was born May 3rd, 1947 to Stella Jensen and John L. Roberts in St. Anthony, Idaho. He was the youngest of 10 children. Even as a young child, Dennis was a hard worker and tended the St. Anthony, Parker and Teton cemeteries along with his 5 brothers. In 1964 he joined the U.S. Navy, where he served 3 tours of combat duty off the coast of Vietnam. He served on both coasts and had numerous deployments. During his life, Dennis travelled extensively and visited at least 28 countries. In 1972 Dennis met and married Diane Lucier Lewis and in 1973 he left the military to make his new family his top priority. He subsequently adopted their two children, Melanie and Matthew and the entire family moved to Idaho and bought their current property, where he and Diane have remained ever since. Dennis busied himself with planting trees, building the family home and raising miniature horses. Dennis was an accomplished showman and driver of his mini horses, especially with his favorite – Sailor Boy! He campaigned Sailor throughout the intermountain West and twice they attended AMHR Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dennis was also an avid dirt bike rider and later turned to a RZR to explore the Idaho Mountains that he loved. “Honest, hard-working and conscientious” would be traits he was known for and served him well. He worked for Bonneville County Road and Bridge as a Heavy Equipment Operator until his retirement in 2007. He loved telling stories of his many adventures operating his road grader in the Bone and Tex Creek areas. He took such pride in his work that you could often hear Dennis commenting on how current employees were maintaining “his” roads in “his” County. After he retired, he kept busy with part time jobs. He hauled hay for Danny Ferguson, and was the handyman at Kinghorn Vet for his friend Dr. Clark Kinghorn—his favorite job of all time. Dennis is survived by his wife of 45 years Diane, daughter Melanie Lewis (Kelly) of Los Angeles and Fredericksburg, TX., son Matthew Lewis (Michelle) of Idaho Falls, granddaughters; Breeann Hansen (Cory), McKenzie Lewis (Beau Moser), and Peyton Anderson all of Idaho Falls, and Kate Lewis of Los Angeles, and great grandchildren: Parker, Morgan and Cooper, who were especially a delight to him, as were his horse Sailor and bull terrier Charlie. Additionally, Dennis is survived by 4 of his 9 siblings: sister Joyce Hathaway, Lyle Roberts, Jack Roberts (Joye) and Jimmy Roberts. His family would like to thank his many neighbors and friends for all their well wishes and help. And a special thanks to Helping Hands Hospice and to his sister-in-law Betty Wright, and brother-in-law Dennis Hollenbeck for all their help and support, especially these last few months. A memorial service to celebrate Dennis’ life will be held Friday, September 29th, 2017 at 7:00 p.m., at the Loft Reception Center, 5 North 3800 East, Rigby, Idaho 83442. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or the Huntsman Cancer Hospital at www.huntsmancancer.org.