Michael Roberts

Michael William Roberts, 66, of Cody Wyoming, passed away suddenly, unexpectedly, and far too soon, on August 31, 2025.

Mike was born in St. Louis, MO on July 23, 1959. He graduated from Mehlville High School in 1977 and the University of Missouri with a forestry degree in 1981. On a family trip to Colorado at age 12 he saw mountains for the first time and fell in love with them, knowing he would eventually move west. The day after high school graduation he headed to Colorado for a summer job at the Double JK Ranch, returning the following summer.

Following college graduation he worked at the Defense Mapping Agency from 1981 - 1986, taking two summers off to hike the Pacific Crest Trail with his good friend Steve. In 1986 he joined the Bureau of Land Management in Cheyenne, WY. He loved Wyoming and would spend the rest of his life in the state. Mike was introduced to Paula Kropf by his sister Sharon; Paula and Mike married in 1991 and together they raised 2 wonderful kids, Briana and Brett. The family moved to Worland, WY in 2004 where Mike continued to work for the BLM until his retirement in 2014. Two years later, he and Paula moved to Cody, WY. Mike was always curious and interested in learning local history, geology, etc., and shared his knowledge guiding tours at Yellowstone National Park for a few summers as a retirement job.

Mike was passionate in his love of the outdoors, enjoying all the plants and animals found there. He often enjoyed camping, hiking, riding his bicycle, and skiing, and was an avid runner for many years. He completed numerous multi-day bike trips, culminating in the adventure of a lifetime, a coast-to-coast tandem bicycle ride with Paula, from Washington to Maine in 2015. He more recently got into mountain and gravel bike riding. He summited many mountains in Colorado and Wyoming and enjoyed exploring places where no trails existed but beauty and solitude endured – including many off-trail adventures during which he took his family on long detours "just to that ridge over there".

Among his many talents were landscaping, gardening, woodworking, and photography, and he excelled in finding creative solutions to nearly any problem. He worked hard and took pride in doing quality work. But he also played hard, enjoyed meeting people and talking, and liked to laugh. He was appreciated by friends and family for his generosity, dependability, and willingness to help people.

Above all, he was a loving and dedicated husband and dad. He loved his family with all his heart, and he was loved dearly by his family and friends. He will be greatly missed.

Mike was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Jerry Sudtelgte, sister Pat, and dad, Cliff.

He is survived by his wife, Paula, daughter Briana Roberts (Adam Sulc), Prague, Czech Republic; son Brett Roberts, Minneapolis, MN; mom Barbara Roberts, Powell, WY; sister Sharon Roberts, Johnstown, CO; brother Jim (Donna) Roberts, Wenatchee, WA; brother-in-law Tony DiAngelis, Lanoka Harbor, NJ, and many nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Cody on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 10:30am. Memories and condolences can be shared on Mike's memorial page at www.BallardFH.com