Roy Vallejo, 87

Raul “Roy” Vallejo, 87, was born Jan. 21, 1936, in Savage, Mont., to Desi and Paula Vallejo. The second oldest boy of 12 children, he grew up on the sugar beet farm his father bought after immigrating from Mexico.

Known for being a fast driver, he graduated from Savage High School in 1952. Roy went on to join the Air Force in 1954 as an airplane electrician.

In 1961, while in the Air Force, he was injured when the nose of a plane he was working on collapsed to the flight line. Fearing he didn’t survive the ordeal, the crews didn’t hurry to get him out. Curled up around the wheel of the plane inside the wheel well, afraid his time was coming to an end, the only prayer he could remember was to ask for the intercession of St. Jude, the patron Saint of Impossible Causes.

After getting him out, Roy went into surgery and was hospitalized for three and half years. He was left with severe damage to both legs, forcing him to use his crutches from then on, although he refused to be called a “sickie”.

After healing, Roy went to the University of Montana majoring in business, as well as receiving a minor in Spanish. While there he met and fell in love with Sheila Crofoot and her daughter, Darcy, from a previous marriage. Roy and Sheila married on July 2nd, 1966, with Roy adopting Darcy to raise her as his own. Roy and Sheila had Royce a few years later, completing their family.

Roy went on to work for the Department of Defense as a civilian contractor. Roy and Sheila moved around the country following the demands of the job in their 57 years of marriage, before settling in St. Ignatius after the death of Sheila’s father.

Roy delighted in his family and friends, traveling, the Griz, his “ponies,” good whiskey, and work that kept him occupied around the house. Roy was a lifelong Catholic supporting many charities over the years.

Roy was diagnosed with colon cancer earlier in May, and after battling other illnesses for many years, his body wore out. Roy passed away in his home with his wife and children attending to him on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Lupe and Maria (died in infancy) and his brothers Cruz (died in infancy) and Victor, along with brothers-in-law John Chambers, Jack Siegle, Max Herbert, Gary Sorenson, Butch Finnecum and Steve Crofoot, and sister-in-law, Wendy Vallejo.

Roy is survived by wife Sheila; children Darcy (Terry) Cody, and Royce (Jill); grandchildren Jessica (Patrick) Brown, Beck (Amy) Cody, Myranda (Forrester) Godwin, Hunter (Sierra) Street, and Ty (Courtney) Street; great-grandchildren Gordyn and Kristyn Brown, Deacon, Abigail, Braedyn and Colten Cody, Bentley and Brystal Godwin, and Chevy Street, and was expecting his next great-grandson in November; as well as his siblings, Margaret Siegle, Lola Herbert, Esther Sorenson, Andy Vallejo, Lydia (Don) Wandler, Elisa (Ron) Olsen and Christina Finnecum; sister-in-law, Deann Crofoot; numerous nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.