Clear, 56° F
(July 7, 1921 - May 25, 2015)
Roger Fernandez of Meeteetse died May 25, 2015, at Powell Valley Healthcare. He was 93.
Roger was born July 7, 1921, in Nava Coah, Mexico, to Hermilo Fernandez and Petra Fernandez.
Roger always dreamed of being a rancher, and he was encouraged by his family to come the United States and pursue his dream.
He met Esperanza “Hope” Gutierrez in front of the general store of Roger's sisters in 1945. Roger and Esperanza were married May 20, 1946, in the Catholic Church in Sabinas.
In 1954, Roger and Esperanza decided to pursue his dream of working on a ranch when he was 32 years old.
Roger came to Meeteetse hoping to find work on May’s Ranch. They arrived in Meeteetse with $3.75 and spoke very little English.
He was hired to go to work for the Bar TL. Roger liked the work on the Bar TL, but he went back to Mexico to be with his family. The manager of the Bar TL, Van Crosic, called Roger in Mexico and asked him to come back to Meeteetse to work.
When Roger and Esperanza came to the United States they had two children, Roger and Lucy. Their other children, George, Alma, John and Patti, were born in the United States.
In 1963, Roger began working for Hinke. Roger leased the ranch for three years while Hinke tried to sell it. Eventually, Hinke came to Roger and asked him to buy the place. He told Roger he was a good worker and he would be able to do it. Roger and Hope agreed. They knew it would take the whole family working to achieve success.
This was the culmination of Roger’s lifelong dream. When Hinke and Roger went to the attorney to sign the papers, the attorney asked Roger if he knew what he was doing. He did.
They started out with no beef cows, one milk cow and one truck and five children. After buying the ranch, Roger bought a baler and began looking for jobs. He bought the old Ford with a sickle to put up the hay and raked the hay into piles.
Roger’s best memory from the ranch was when they sold 167 calves and were paid $1.26 per pound in the mid ’80s.
In 1998, Roger and Hope decided to sell the ranch. Roger and Hope were both glad and happy and scared about the prospect of selling the ranch. After working so many years on the ranch, it was very hard to move.
For Hope, it was hardest to leave the house and the trailer, which they bought for $2,500 and lived in after the fire. For Roger, it was hardest to leave the cows. He still sometimes dreamt about pushing cows in Fifteenmile.
Roger and Hope loved working the ranch with the kids. They are glad the kids grew up on the ranch and in Meeteetse. The only thing they wish could have been different would be if they had started off in the ranching business a little better (more cash and more cows); it would have been easier on the whole family.
Roger and Hope enjoyed retirement. Why not? It’s good to sit here and do nothing. Roger’s hobbies were gardening and his cows. He also enjoyed baseball and boxing. Roger was a Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame nominee.
Roger said you have to have ambition to succeed. He said that one opportunity happens once in a lifetime. You have to be willing to take that opportunity and not be afraid to fail. Work hard, be careful and try to not make too many mistakes.
Roger said if you climb in the saddle, be ready for the ride.
Roger is survived by his wife Esperanza; sons Roger (Jane) Fernandez, George (Corrine) Fernandez, John (Tracie) Fernandez; Lucy Darkenwald, Alma (Gary) Dippold, Patti (David) Gustason; 23 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son-in-law Bill Darkenwald.
Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 6, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Meeteetse.
Memorials can be sent to St. Anthony’s Church in Meeteetse.
Cremation has taken place. Arrangements are being handled by Thompson Funeral Home and Crematory.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.thompsonfuneral.net or to P.O. Box 807 Powell, WY, 82435.
