Roger was born May 11, 1947, to Lowell P. Hicks and Bernice Horsley Hicks, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended East High School and the University of Utah, and graduated from West Virginia University School of Dentistry. After practicing a year in Lompoc, CA, he and his family moved to Salt Lake City, beginning a forty year practice in the Millcreek area. His patients loved their visits to his office, and especially liked his “painless jiggly pizza juice” injections.
He married his high school sweetheart, Linda L. Morgan, in the Salt Lake Temple, on June 16, 1969. They welcomed 6 children into their family, and later 6 wonderful children-in law: Stefanie and Josh Bevans, Michael and Natalie (Bagley), Brian and Heidi (Russon), April and Jon Pratt, Melissa and Spencer Dent, and Kevin and Yuuka (Yamaguchi) Hicks. They are also blessed with 15 beautiful grandchildren and a grandson-in-law. Family has always been a priority for him, and time spent making memories with his family included camping, boating, hunting, fishing, making music together, being at the cabin, re-enacting at a mountain man rendezvous, or watching his favorite teams play.
As a teen, Roger began his musical journey, starting on flute, and later bassoon. At 14, he was the youngest person to be hired by the Utah Symphony, under Maurice Abravanel, and played with the Symphony until he went to dental school. He performed as a soloist for the “Salute to Youth” in 1965. Roger has played with several orchestras during his career, and 23 years as principal bassoonist with the Ballet West Orchestra. He has taught bassoon to many young people.
A man devoted to God and his fellow man, Roger has been a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints his entire life. He served a 2 year mission in the North Central States Mission (Minnesota and Manitoba), and later with his wife as Member/Leader Support missionaries in the Utah Orem Mission. He has served as a Bishop in the East Millcreek 17th Ward, the East Millcreek 4th Ward, and the BYU 110th Ward. He also served in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. Roger has loved the opportunity to teach, and especially enjoyed working with the Boy Scouts, where he had an impact on the lives of many young men.
Roger has cared deeply for people, and has been generous in kindness, appreciation, and love for others. His family and friends will miss his positivity, generosity, energy, and enthusiasm.
Roger is preceded in death by his parents and sister-in-law, Janet Morgan. He is survived by his wife Linda Hicks, his children and grandchildren, his siblings Kay (Melvin) Ward, Jean Wright, Teresa (Steve) Ross, and Ron (Sherri) Hicks, and siblings-in-law.
His family wishes to express deep appreciation to his care-givers, Julie Parkin, Bristol Hospice, and the wonderful staff at The Ashford, and to Dr. John Greenlee, U of U Neuro Science Dept.
Services will be held on June 26, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at the Highland 36th Ward chapel, 11300 No. Highland Blvd., Highland, UT, with a visitation there prior to the service, from 9:00-10:00. There will be a visitation on Friday, June 25, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401South Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, UT.
A live link for his services can be found at https://youtu.be/7-txChSJ_Ds
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Donated Dental Services, https://give.classy.org/Dr-Hicks
