Dell Roberts

Biography

Dell Roberts, lifelong resident of Shelley, is once again doing what he did best, the three R’s, ridin’, ‘restlin’, and ropin’. Dell went to his last roundup on May 8, 2013, he was 84. Born in Jameston, east of Shelley, Dell attended local schools and spent his childhood working on the family farm. His early years taught him a work ethic that never faded. But, even in his early days, Dell heard the call of the rodeo. When he was 8 years old, his parents would go shopping on Saturdays. Dell would ride calves on the front lawn because there was no one to say no. In his early rodeo years he rode bulls and bareback horses since he did not have his own horse for other events. Dell joined the Army and served as a paratrooper. While stationed in Fort Campbell Kentucky, he met and married Margaret Moore on July 3, 1953. After his discharge from the Army, Dell and Margaret lived in Missouri where he joined the 5 state Rodeo Association and won All-round, 1st in bulldogging and 2nd in roping, all on his first horse, a palomino named Whimpy. In 1955 Dell won a belt buckle in a Texas rodeo. He proudly wore that buckle his entire life and would point out that he “took it from a bunch of Texans”. In 1963 Dell, Margaret, and the two kids, returned to his native Idaho and made their home in Jameston, up the road from the Roberts’ family homestead. There he built a home and raised his family. Dell joined the Teamsters, but in his “off” hours, he worked from before sun up until well after it faded below the horizon on his piece of Heaven. But his love for horses made the hard work all worthwhile. His shining star was Dell’s Keepsake, a Quarter horse stallion Dell purchased in 1979. In his early years, Dell’s Keepsake had offspring that excelled in roping, bulldogging, team penning and barrel racing. Keepsake spent his twilight years in retirement and passed at age 32. Dell was instrumental in starting the Senior Rodeo Association of Blackfoot, then serving two years as president, and continuing as a member of the board of directors. He organized the Horseman’s Hall of Fame and was later inducted into it. Husband, father, cowboy, teamster, and veteran, Dell was a friend to neighbors and strangers alike. He never said no to a favor. He leaves his wife of 60 years, Margaret of Shelley, son Bruce (Jean) Roberts of Ririe and daughter Thea (John) Eatinger, also of Shelley. And he leaves the joys of his life, two grandchildren Trudi and Trevor and five great grandchildren. He also leaves two sisters, Marcile James of Hyde Park Utah and Darlene Williams of Salt Lake City. Dell is preceded in death by his parents, Dave and Mable Roberts of Shelley, four brothers and a sister. Services announced at a later date. The family suggests donations in his honor to Hearts for Hospice.