Rodger Sutton Obituary

RODGER E. SUTTON
1946 ~ 2018
Rodger Eugene Sutton, 71, passed away peacefully January 17th, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was born June 8, 1946 to Cecil and Wanda Sutton of Ola, Idaho. The fifth of six children in a rambunctious but mostly musical family, Rodger learned to play the piano and participated in the Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest and Festival with his brothers and sister. By the time he was in high school, the family band, The Suttons, spent weekends playing for country dances all over South Western Idaho. He graduated from Emmett High School in 1965, then, attended the University of Idaho where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in business.
Rodger married the love of his life, Karen Sorenson, in September of 1969 and they were happily married for 48 years. By far the most important thing in Rodger's life was his family. He and Karen had two children; daughter, Joni and son, Ryan. The four of them had adventures too numerous to count. The family eventually expanded to include six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Rodger was generous, kind, and tremendously proud of his family. He laughed easily, loved deeply, and lived completely.
A word of advice from Rodger: "A loaf of bread, a pack of lunch meat, and something to drink is all you need for the perfect Sunday drive." His outings ranged anywhere from rock hounding to hot dog roasts to weekend trips at the coast. As long as he was with his family, be it an afternoon excursion or a two-week vacation, he was happy. Each and every memory-filled adventure will be treasured by his family forever. When the family spread across the country, Rodger's solution was to pack Karen into their RV and take to the road full-time, where they have spent the past five years traveling and spending as much time as possible with their children and grandchildren.
Rodger spent his career as a Business Analyst with Idaho Power where he was blessed to have met many wonderful people and formed several lasting friendships. After 31 years, he retired in 2001.
Rodger is survived by his wife, Karen Sutton; his daughter, Joni (Kenneth) Mundt; his son, Ryan (Jennifer) Sutton; his grandchildren, Wyatt Sutton, Mattison Mundt, Riley Sutton, Alexandra Mundt, William Sutton and Anneli Mundt; his great-grandson, Trent Sutton; his brothers, Larry (Lou Ann) Sutton, Vernon (Lois) Sutton, Allen (Sharon) Sutton; his sister, Katheryn Strickland; his sisters-in-law, Gloria Sutton, Pat (Gary Coleman) Schult, Bobbi Jo Wilson and Pamela (Tom) Paulin. He also leaves behind numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Wanda and Cecil Sutton; his brother, Perry Sutton; nephew, Jimmy Sutton; brothers-in-law, Larry Strickland, Ron Sorenson and Jim Wilson.
Dad bids his final farewell as he goes on the road, yet again, taking his final trip to be with our Lord and Savior.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Ola Cemetery, c/o Joyce Biggers, P.O. Box 55, Ola, ID 83657 or St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 219 East 1st, P.O. Box 215, Emmett, ID 83617.
Viewing will be at Potter Funeral Chapel from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, January 25, 2018. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 26, 2018 at Potter Funeral Chapel in Emmett, Idaho. Interment to follow at the Ola Cemetery including a luncheon provided by the Ola Ladies Club at the community hall in Ola, Idaho.