Dee Rolfe

Dee Rolfe, 78, of Saint George, Utah, passed away Wednesday, April 21, 2010.

He was born May 10, 1931, in Clark, Idaho, to David Jerome Rolfe and Rose Ann Walker. Dee grew up on his father's farm in Clark. After high school, he joined the Navy.

While stationed in San Diego, Calif., he met his wife, Irene Alice Russell of Ridgeville, Manitoba, Canada, and they were married Sept. 8, 1951, in San Diego. After a tour on a maintenance ship during the Korean War, he moved back to Rigby with Irene to start their family. Dee and Irene then moved to Ririe, where they lived for more than 20 years. There he worked as a policeman, service station attendant, snowmobile salesman and finally as the bulk truck driver for the Ririe Co-op.

They moved to Salt Lake City to be closer to their sons, and Dee worked as a manager of an oil change service and manager of an apartment complex. They later moved to Las Vegas, Nev., where he managed a retirement property and was a nursing home shuttle driver. He and Irene finally moved to Saint George, Utah, again to be close to his family.

Beside Irene, Dee's joy in life was making sure his sons and all of his "adoptive" sons were involved in their own passions. He was always there to support them whether at a football game, Boy Scouts or a musical play. He also made sure that they were involved with his own hobbies of fishing, tying flies, refereeing basketball and, later, playing golf.

Dee is survived by his sons, Russell (Nancy) Rolfe of Redmond, Wash., and Jack (Lexie) Rolfe of Saint George, Utah; grandchildren, Amber Rolfe, Mandi Rolfe, Kenny (Grace) Rolfe, Brigitte (James) Cramer, Lynnie (Nick) Gandola, Megan (Ryan) Hambly, Christy Rolfe, Drew (Rustie) Rolfe and Kayla Rolfe; great-grandchildren, Hailey and Kody Rolfe and Reed Hambly; siblings, Don Rolfe of Irwin, and Ronnie Rolfe and Rosemary (Gil) Yost, both of Idaho Falls; and sisters-in-law, Zoe Rolfe and Jesse Rolfe.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Irene Alice Russell Rolfe; his father, David Jerome Rolfe; his mother, Rose Ann Walker; and his brothers, David Darrel Rolfe, Ellwyn Walker Rolfe, Rex Rolfe and Reed Rolfe.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, April 26, at Eckersell Memorial Chapel, 101 W. Main St. in Rigby. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. prior to the services at the funeral home. Interment will be in Rigby Pioneer Cemetery. Please share remembrances with the family at www.serenicare.com.