Obituary of Roger Leroy Collins

Roger was born in Gerster, Missouri the oldest child of Bert and Fae Collins. They moved shortly after Roger was born to Colorado for a short time before making their way west to Kimberly, Idaho. Bert worked for his Uncle Orion Butler on the Butler Ranch for a few years before going out on his own to farm. Roger grew up helping his dad farm. He attended the Pleasant Valley School south of Kimberly where he got to ride his pony to school most every day. After the family moved to the Taylor Farm north of Kimberly Roger attended Kimberly High. Roger married his high school sweetheart (Phyllis Thorpe) on June 1st 1952. They spent 66 years together before Phyllis passed away in April of 2018. Together they raised 3 boys Larry, Kent and Tony. Roger was very ambitious and was always working at something. Besides helping his parents farm he set bowling pins at the local bowling alley and worked at several fueling stations at night and weekends. In 1953 Roger and his dad started a custom hay bailing and spraying business which was the beginning of Bert Collins and Son. A few years later Roger’s younger brother Robbie joined to form Bert Collins and Sons. At this time they joined up with Farm Service and added liquid injection rigs to their equipment line. Roger was very creative and designed and built most of that equipment himself. In 1968 they purchased a distributorship with Chevron Chemical Company and built a brand-new facility in Kimberly where they sold and applied dry and liquid fertilizer. In a few years this was truly a family business. His wife Phyllis, sister Cheryl Anderson, and all three boys, Larry, Kent & Tony joined in the fun. The name was changed to Collins & Sons. Roger managed the company for over 20 years. During those years a lifetime of friendships were formed with clients and hired staff. Roger took a lot of pride in how he did business. He treated people fair and honest. He also took a lot of pride in his equipment and ran the cleanest fertilizer plant in the valley. One of his oldest sayings, nothing to do grab a broom. After retiring from the fertilizer business Roger worked a few years on a sod farm and then later he and Phyllis helped his son Kent and daughter in law Cindy in their real estate business doing what ever needed done. Roger and Phyllis had business cards made up with the word, Just Gofers. Both Roger and Phyllis enjoyed bowling and bowled on single and double leagues in the 60s and 70s. Roger carried 200 plus average for several years. In 1980 they purchased their lake cabin at Magic Reservoir. It was here where they made their fondest memories with special friends fishing, snowmobiling, playing cards and lots of parties. Roger and Phyllis both had a love of dogs and always had one or two around. Roger loved a good joke or story but even better he enjoyed telling them. If a little Black Velvet was involved the stories were endless. Roger loved his family and friends and cherished time spent with them all. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, wife Phyllis, brother Robbie and two sons Larry and Tony. He is survived by his son Kent (Cindy) Collins of Twin Falls sister Cheryl (Larry) Anderson of Kimberly, sister in law Carol Collins of Idaho Falls, 8 grandkids 21 great grandkids and 3 great great grand kids. I know Roger would want to say a big thank you for all those who cared for him the past few years after Phyllis passed. So many names to mention but most of all the staff at Hospice Visions. The North Side Girls and Mike you truly were a God Send. Thanks So Much A Life Celebration Service for Roger will be held at Rosenau Funeral Home on Tuesday February 2nd at 1PM. Located at 2826 Addison Ave E Twin Falls. A wbcast link can be found for those who can’t attend by visiting his obituary page at www.rosenaufuneralhome.com. Please practice COVID-19 precautions while attending the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice Visions, 455 Park View Loop, Twin Falls.