Richard Warren Rogers

Richard "Rick" Warren Rogers lived a life deeply rooted in the rugged landscapes of western Colorado, from the mining camps of his youth to the high country streams where he found his truest joy. Born on June 21, 1950, in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, to Phyllis Gene (Stanton) and Garland Wayne Rogers, Rick's early years unfolded in the remote ranching communities of Piceance Creek, Rifle, and what was then called Grand Valley.

His childhood education began at the Little Rock School House on Piceance Creek, a one-room schoolhouse that served the scattered families of this isolated region. When Rick reached junior high school age, the family relocated to Grand Valley, where he would complete his secondary education, graduating from Grand Valley High School in 1968.

Like many young men of his generation, Rick's path to adulthood took unexpected turns. He enrolled at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden for the fall semester of 1968, but financial realities soon intervened. Determined to fund his education through honest work, he left school and embarked on a journey to Alaska, where he spent several months earning money to continue his studies. However, upon his return to Colorado, the escalating Vietnam War had created new obligations, and Rick found himself called to military service.

On August 9, 1969, Rick enlisted in the United States Army, beginning a chapter that would shape both his character and his future. His aptitude and leadership potential quickly became evident during basic training, earning him an invitation to attend Officers Candidate School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. His dedication paid off when he successfully completed the rigorous program and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on July 9, 1970.

Rick's military assignment brought him to Fort Carson, Colorado, where he served as Commander of the 1323 Engineer Construction Unit within the 52nd Engineer Battalion. His performance and leadership continued to impress his superiors, and exactly one year after his commissioning, on July 9, 1971, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. It was during his time at Fort Carson that Rick met Cheryl Ann Mitchell, a meeting that would prove to be the most significant of his life.

On June 20, 1971, Rick and Cheryl were married, beginning a partnership that would endure for over 54 years. Their wedding took place while Rick was still serving at Fort Carson, and together they would build a family that became the center of Rick's world. After completing his military service in August 1973, Rick transitioned to civilian life with the practical skills and strong work ethic that would define his career.

Rick carved out his professional niche as a Heavy Equipment and Diesel Mechanic, a trade that took him to some of Colorado's most significant industrial operations. His career journey included substantial tenure with Climax Molybdenum Mining in Leadville, where he worked during the mine's peak years when it employed thousands and was one of the world's most productive molybdenum operations. He later worked for Flint Engineering in Rangely, Eagle County government in Eagle, and finally the City of Delta, where he would conclude his working years.

Rick and Cheryl raised five children together: Christine, who settled in Parker, Colorado, with her husband Jason Beatty; Richard Jr., who made his home in Thornton, Colorado, with his wife Jennifer; Teresa, who remained close to the family's western Colorado roots in Eckert with her husband Ricardo Apodaca; Virginia, who moved to Cortez, Colorado, with her husband Kelly Johnson; and Debra, who ventured furthest from home to Anchorage, Alaska, with her husband Tobie Fodge.

While Rick took genuine pride in his work and was known as a dedicated and loyal employee throughout his career, his obituary makes clear that his true purpose and deepest joy lay in raising his children. The family narrative notes with affection that if Rick hadn't been convinced his children deserved to eat regularly, live indoors, and receive an education, "he would have been quite happy fishing in streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes; hunting for grouse, rabbits, antelope, deer and elk; or camping with no other purpose than to listen to the crickets, to hear the coyotes howl, or to watch the stars twinkle—with his children all the time."

This love of the outdoors wasn't merely recreational for Rick; it represented his connection to the wild places that had shaped him since childhood in the remote communities of western Colorado. He passed this appreciation for nature's rhythms and beauty to his children and grandchildren, creating memories in Colorado's high country that would last long beyond his lifetime.

After retirement, Rick and Cheryl settled permanently in Delta, Colorado, where they spent the final 31 years of his life. The small western Colorado community provided them with the quality of life they valued—close enough to family, near the outdoor recreation opportunities Rick treasured, and part of the broader network of relationships they had built over decades of Colorado living.

Rick's family grew to include eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, creating a legacy that stretched across multiple generations. His influence extended beyond his immediate family to include his surviving brother Russell and sister Peggy Caudillo, both of Alamogordo, New Mexico, as well as three sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law in Montrose, Colorado, and numerous nieces and nephews.

On March 16, 2026, Rick passed away peacefully at his home in Delta, Colorado, at the age of 75. His death marked the end of a life lived with integrity, dedication to family, and deep appreciation for the natural world that surrounded him. Rather than flowers, his family requested that memorial contributions be made to children-centered charities, reflecting Rick's lifelong commitment to the welfare and development of young people—from local 4-H clubs and scout troops to national organizations working to prevent childhood diseases, abuse, or endangerment.

The family planned a private service for later that summer in the high country that Rick loved, a fitting tribute to a man whose happiest moments were spent in Colorado's mountains and wilderness areas with the people he cherished most.