Ken G Roberts was born to Elvera Ilene Helquist and Garth Gleave Roberts on February 13, 1948. He loved horses, hunting, and fishing from the very start. His earliest years were spent behind his father on the back of a horse. His favorite childhood companion was Grandpa Wib Roberts. Grandpa Wib taught Ken to shoot, hunt, ride, and fish. He continued with those hobbies all his life.
Another of his loves was basketball. He played at Piute High School, and many of his fans will remember his trademark head toss to get his hair out of his eyes as he ran down the court. He loved basketball to the end of his life. He went to every high school game that he could and, along with his friend, Leon Twitchell, was the fan of the year.
Ken’s nickname in high school was “Coug” because of his love of cougar hunting. Ken was a guide on the hunt that brought down the world record cougar at that time. Ken and Garth also caught a cougar that later starred in Walt Disney movies.
Ken proudly served his country in Vietnam with the Army.
He then met Valeene Sawyer in 1973. After winning over her two kids with Chick-o-Sticks, they married in 1974. He made Valeene promise they would not have any ugly kids (promise fulfilled!). He loved working with cattle and raised a family of six kids on his ranching salary for years. He worked for Herb Gleave, Hal Jensen, Sam Duncan, Phil Allen and Son Polled Herefords, where he remained until just a few years before his death. He worked in all weather conditions and on every holiday, except for the deer hunt. He loved to bow hunt and rifle hunt. And, in good weather, he’d collect his pole and gear and drive to the reservoir to fish as soon as he was done with work.
Ken never met a stranger. He enjoyed talking to people and had several long conversations with wrong number calls. His famous phrase was “he sure thinks a lot of me.” He was also notorious for slaughtering the English language. “Aluminum” and “linoleum” were his two worst enemies. When Dad knew he got a word wrong, he would smile and say, “Pretty close, right?”
In 2008, Ken got very sick and spent several weeks in the St. George hospital. He had a life-threatening lung infection. He made a deal with God that if he was healed, he would quit drinking and smoking, and he’d go back to church. He was, and he did. He was sealed to Valeene in the St George Temple on October 7, 2009. Ken remained faithful and served in various callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, including a priesthood instructor and counselor in the bishopric. He was able to touch many hearts through his service to the Lord.
Ken passed from this life on April 7, 2026, from complications of COPD and emphysema. In his last days, he was able to visit and laugh with the family and friends that he so treasured. His last meal was an Eskimo Pie ice cream bar, and his last words were “Aw, hell”.
He is survived by his children: Tracy (Renato) Matheson, David (Stephanie) Roberts, Kena (Ryan) Toone, Riley (Crystal) Roberts, Amberly (Jerrod) Mallinger, and Gannon (Kambri) Roberts; 32 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; sisters: Darlene Evans, Kim (Scott) Adams, and Elaine (Nate) Tebbs.
He is preceded in death by Valeene (wife), Garth and Ilene Roberts (parents), LeVere, LaRell, and Keith Roberts (brothers), Ken Jr. (son), April Roberts (daughter-in-law), Lynn Pierson (brother-in-law), and Doug Evans (brother-in-law).
Special thanks to Bill Wiley, Garfield County Hospital Staff and Hospice Care, the townspeople of Antimony, and the Antimony Merc Coffee Club for all your dedicated care and kindness. Thank you for helping him and loving him.
Funeral Services will be at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, April 18, 2026, in the Antimony Ward Chapel. Viewings will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm and again prior to services on Saturday at the Church from 9:30 to 11:30 am. Burial will be in the Widtsoe Cemetery with Military Honors. An online guestbook with livestreaming can be found at www.maglebymortuary.com