Roger Alan Sorum's Obituary
Roger Alan Sorum, beloved son, great brother, special uncle, and loyal fun-loving friend, entered peacefully into eternal life on July 13, 2014 in Sacramento, CA.
Roger Sorum was born in Watertown, SD on August 31, 1943 to Ross and Ruth Sorum. He spent his childhood in Faulkton, SD where he graduated from Faulkton High School. During his early years, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, and all the other outdoor activities that were abundant in a small rural northern plains community. He especially loved his dog Sandy and hanging out with all his friends. In high school, Roger played guard on the varsity basketball team, and, during his senior year, was a member of one of the best football teams that has ever played for that school. That team went undefeated for the year, and only one team was able to score any points against them the entire year, and that was a field goal.
Following high school, Roger attended the University of South Dakota for a year before joining the Navy with one of his close friends. He became a Navy hospital corpsman for a short period, and then was transferred to the U.S. Marines where he was also a medical corpsman. Following a period of duty in southern CA, Roger was deployed with his Marine Corps unit to Chu Lai, Vietnam, the first unit of U.S. ground forces to be deployed to that country in 1965. He also served some time with the Marines in Okinawa and Washington, DC before being honorably discharged in 1967.
After leaving military service, Roger remained in southern CA and worked in the bar and restaurant business for a few years. While there, he also attended college, played golf, and enjoyed getting together with his friends. In the mid 1970s, Roger returned to South Dakota to assist his family in operating a small resort in Sturgis. He worked in the Sturgis and Rapid City areas for couple of years before moving to the Sacramento area where many of his family were located. He remained in the Sacramento area for the rest of his life except for a brief move to Reno, NV to assist his cousin in a business there. While in Sacramento he worked as bartender and in the coffee distribution business before beginning his last job as a satellite television technician.
Roger was preceded in death by his mother Ruth Sorum, father Ross Sorum, uncles Gene, Gail, Jack, and Jim Sorum; uncle Norman Hanson, aunts Norma, Olga, Kay, El Nor Sorum; aunt Ione Hanson, and cousin Jim Sorum. He was unmarried throughout his life. He is survived by his brother Dave, sister-in-law Nita of Rocklin, CA; nephew Robert Sorum of Grass Valley, CA; niece Leslie Sorum of Denver, CO; and several cousins.
Roger spent the last many years of his life living in the West Sacramento area where he enjoyed golfing, fishing, and boating on the Sacramento River. He really enjoyed the pontoon boat that he built with friends (which seemed to have a knack for breaking down just prior to reaching Knight’s Landing ….there are so many stories about those times) and socializing with his numerous friends who lived on or near the river. He also loved his dogs Shauna and Oliver while they were with him. As an avid sports fan, he especially enjoyed playing in the annual football and basketball pools with friends and family. He also really enjoyed trips to Reno for gaming and watching professional football.
But mostly he enjoyed hanging out with his friends and telling the many jokes and stories that only he could tell. Along with his father and brother, he was a life member of the Bryte, CA VFW post along with his father and brother, and enjoyed the many people who knew him and that he knew there.
As Roger wished, there will be no formal funeral ceremony. There will be a private ceremony at Sunset Lawn cemetery in Sacramento where he will be laid to rest. Those of us that were fortunate enough to know and love him also know that he wanted us to have a get-together to toast and remember him. Therefore, there will be a celebration of life for Roger sometime in the next few weeks, probably at the
Bryte, CA VFW Post on Saturday, September 6th. We will notify everyone when planning for this get- together is finalized. All friends and acquaintances are invited to attend this remembrance and share some of their many stories of their times with my special brother.
What’s your fondest memory of Roger?
What’s a lesson you learned from Roger?
Share a story where Roger's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Roger you’ll never forget.
How did Roger make you smile?