Theodore Roller

Theodore Francis Roller, (age 91), entered eternal life the morning of Monday, August 5, 2024, at his home in Santa Clara Pueblo. 

Ted began life on October 7, 1932, in Clifford, North Dakota, the fourteenth of fifteen children born to Joseph B. and Mary Ann (Kubishta) Roller. Ted grew up on the family farm near Clifford where he helped his parents with huge crops of sorghum, sugar beets, soybeans, corn, and the major crop of wheat. 

Ted graduated from Clifford High School in 1950. He spent time discerning whether to become a Roman Catholic priest or layperson. He decided on the latter and went on to North Dakota School of Science in Wahpeton where he learned his drafting skills. Later, he took specialized courses at Sandia Corporation and the Technical Vocational Institute. He was drafted into the U.S. Army October 30, 1952, and attained the rank of Corporal in the 25th Infantry Scout Dog Platoon, in Ft. Carson CO. 

While there, Ted was introduced to the young Tonita Tafoya, the sister-in-law of his Sargent, Walton Youngblood with whose wife, Mela hosted her sister, Toni in their home. Ted and Toni were married November 6, 1954, at Santa Clara Catholic Mission Church with many relatives in attendance. Together they raised seven children and lived in Los Alamos, Albuquerque, and moved to Espanola in 1966, then to Santa Clara Pueblo in 1967. Ted worked as a draftsman at Sandia National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory. He was most proud of his work on an early Lasik surgery project. Ted retired in 1991 and became Toni's pottery studio/gallery manager. He researched and self-published a book "Seven Roller Generations" in 1971 and another "Training Your Dog: Obedience the Simplified Way" in 1975. His sideline was playing accordion as he was part of a dance band in North Dakota when he was still in high school. He passed on his love of music to his children, several of whom play instruments and sing. Ted was heard singing the Latin Gregorian chants in the last months and days of his life. 

Ted was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law Alcario & Margaret Tafoya, all of his 14 siblings, and his son William Roller. 

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Toni Roller; and son Timothy Roller (Clarissa) of Santa Clara Pueblo; daughters Susan Roller Whittington (James) of Espanola and Deborah Vaughn (Ray) of Apple Valley CA; sons Cliff Roller (Laverne) of Santa Fe NM, Jeff Roller (Tracy Harmon) of Canon City CO, and Brandon Roller (Maria Salazar) of La Mesilla NM; 17 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson; sisters-in-law, LuAnn Tafoya of Pojoaque NM, and Mary E. Archuleta of Ohkay Owingeh, NM; and brother-in-law M. Wayne Tafoya (Diane); many nieces and nephews.

A Rosary will take place at DeVargas Funeral Home in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. 

A Mass of the Resurrection at Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine (417 Agua Fria in Santa Fe, NM)  will take place on Thursday, August 15, 2024, at 10:00 am with burial to follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 11:30 am. 

A luncheon reception will be at the Roller Family Home, 128 Canyon Rd in Espanola, NM (Santa Clara).

The family of Theodore Roller has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the beautiful Espanola Valley. www.devargasfuneral.com 505-747-7477