Obituary for Rodney Dee Porter
We are sorry to announce the passing of Rodney Porter on July 4, 2022. He was 87 years old. It is fitting that he went out with a bang on the 4th of July, as that is how he lived his life.
Rod was born in Albion, Nebraska on February 20, 1935. He was the youngest of 8 children born to Don and Grace Porter. He often reflected on his childhood and the challenging circumstances his family faced. In high school he enjoyed playing sports, which included boxing where he was given the nickname “Slug". It was also in high school that he met the love of his life, Ruth Berthelsen. After graduation, he served in the Army for two years and upon returning home, Ruth and he were married in 1957. With great determination and persistence, Rod finished college and went on to graduate from Optometry School at Pacific University in Oregon.
He started his optometry career in Chadron, Nebraska and in 1969 moved his family to Worland, Wyoming where he spent most of his professional years and raised his family. He loved being active in his new Wyoming environment: skiing, backpacking, fishing, hunting, canoeing, golfing, and even mountain climbing. If he saw something fun and challenging, he found a way to do it and brought his many friends and family along for the ride (sometimes reluctantly).
Rod and Ruth retired in 1999 and moved to Colorado Springs. At this time in his life, he still loved to ski and golf, but his focus changed to serving the Lord and others by using his optometry skills providing eye care on yearly mission trips to Bolivia, South Africa, and Guatemala. In typical Rod fashion, he brought many of his family members and friends along with him. Ruth was able to go on a few trips with him before she passed away in 2001. He has said that these last few years with her were some of the best years of his life.
Rod loved life, loved God, and loved his family. He was preceded in death by his parents (Don and Grace); his wife Ruth; his brothers (Don, Lyle, and Max); and his sisters (Shirley, Margaret, Barbara, and LeAnn).
Rod is survived by his children; Rebecca Hunter (Don), Steve (Gina), and Tim (Holly); sister-in-law Shirley Porter, 10 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Pursue Missions Guatemala, an organization Rod worked with when he went on his Guatemala trips. To donate select the following link and enter amount under “Designated Gift”, and in the Comment section write “Rodney Porter Memorial”:
https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=179265
Rod was born in Albion, Nebraska on February 20, 1935. He was the youngest of 8 children born to Don and Grace Porter. He often reflected on his childhood and the challenging circumstances his family faced. In high school he enjoyed playing sports, which included boxing where he was given the nickname “Slug". It was also in high school that he met the love of his life, Ruth Berthelsen. After graduation, he served in the Army for two years and upon returning home, Ruth and he were married in 1957. With great determination and persistence, Rod finished college and went on to graduate from Optometry School at Pacific University in Oregon.
He started his optometry career in Chadron, Nebraska and in 1969 moved his family to Worland, Wyoming where he spent most of his professional years and raised his family. He loved being active in his new Wyoming environment: skiing, backpacking, fishing, hunting, canoeing, golfing, and even mountain climbing. If he saw something fun and challenging, he found a way to do it and brought his many friends and family along for the ride (sometimes reluctantly).
Rod and Ruth retired in 1999 and moved to Colorado Springs. At this time in his life, he still loved to ski and golf, but his focus changed to serving the Lord and others by using his optometry skills providing eye care on yearly mission trips to Bolivia, South Africa, and Guatemala. In typical Rod fashion, he brought many of his family members and friends along with him. Ruth was able to go on a few trips with him before she passed away in 2001. He has said that these last few years with her were some of the best years of his life.
Rod loved life, loved God, and loved his family. He was preceded in death by his parents (Don and Grace); his wife Ruth; his brothers (Don, Lyle, and Max); and his sisters (Shirley, Margaret, Barbara, and LeAnn).
Rod is survived by his children; Rebecca Hunter (Don), Steve (Gina), and Tim (Holly); sister-in-law Shirley Porter, 10 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Pursue Missions Guatemala, an organization Rod worked with when he went on his Guatemala trips. To donate select the following link and enter amount under “Designated Gift”, and in the Comment section write “Rodney Porter Memorial”:
https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=179265