Roy Rogers' Adopted Daughter Felt His Late Biological Child Was the Reason She Got to Be Part of His Family

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans suffered the loss of their biological daughter when she was only two years old. When they adopted a 13-year-old girl, they transformed her life forever.

Musician Roy Rogers and actress Dale Evans met in a recording studio while married to other people. Their chemistry was noticed on the movie set of "The Cowboy and the Señorita."

They married in 1947, but Roy had two biological children and one adopted daughter before he married Dale.

ROY AND DALE MEET THEIR FUTURE DAUGHTER

While married, they had a baby together, Robin Elizabeth, born with Down Syndrome. Despite doctors asking them to leave her in a facility, they loved and brought her home.

Roy's older children contracted mumps and brought it home. They passed it to Robin, who died on her second birthday.

Marion was not originally an orphan, her parents separated and were unable to create a stable home for her and her three siblings.

Heartbroken, Dale wrote a book, "Angel Unaware" to get through her grief. Both Dale and Roy believed that Robin was born to give them peace and perspective, such as having more children.

Marion Fleming was born in 1940 in an air-raid shelter in Edinburgh in the United Kingdom. She spent more of her life in different children's homes.

When Dale and Roy were performing at the children's home she lived in, they saw her and were determined to get to know her better.

They asked her to see one of their shows and have lunch with her. Marion had lunch with the couple and watched the sold-out show from the theatre's wings.

They also asked her if she wanted to visit their ranch in California. She reflected:

“I was not a cute little five or six-year-old, I was 13. I figured it wasn’t going to happen.”

MARION GETTING TO KNOW HER NEW FAMILY

Marion was not originally an orphan. Her parents separated and could not create a stable home for her and her three siblings. They visited her occasionally, but Marion was keen to live with Roy and Dale. She quickly felt that she was a part of the family.

After they adopted her, they encouraged Marion to write to her parents often and not forget her connection to them.

They couldn't legally adopt her during he first year in America. They had to get a student visa for her. They were able to adopt her the following year legally. Marion

:

“When we were in the house we were just a family, they weren’t Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, they were mum and dad,”

After Robin died, Dale and Roy adopted two children, Dodie and Sandie. Marion believed she was lucky: "I probably owe my position here in America to Robin, in a way," she said. After they adopted her, they encouraged Marion to write to her parents often and not forget her connection to them.

MARION LIVED A GOOD LIFE

Marion died at the age of 80 from a brain aneurysm. Her nephew, Dustin Rogers,

:

"Today I received news that my aunt Mimi Swift passed away after a short and sudden illness (not Covid). Mimi was the sweetest soul and I just loved and will cherish our time together."

The BBC broadcaster who interviewed Marion in 2019 for the "Roy Rogers Kid" program described her as a lovely lady.

ROY ROGERS'S OTHER CHILDREN

Roy was married to Arline Wilkins before he married Dale and had eight children. He also loved and raised Dales's son from her previous relationship. Roy and Dale adopted Cheryl Rogers in 1941 in Texas. She featured in some of Roy's films when she was younger but stayed out of the spotlight as she grew up.

She was deeply involved in charity work as an adult. She served on the children's advocacy group "Child Help USA." She was also a part of the Advisory Board of the Western Music Association and continued to have an active business career as well.

Debbie was also adopted after she was orphaned during the Korean War. She sadly passed away at the age of 12 following a tragic bus accident.

Linda Lou was born in 1943. She also chose to live out of the spotlight. She enjoyed spending time with her many grandchildren at her home in California.

Roy Rogers Junior was Dale and Arline's, only biological son. He was nicknamed "Dusty" and appeared on The Roy Rogers Show as a child.

He later became his father's manager. In the 1980s, he headlined the band "Roy Rogers Jr. and the High Riders." He also managed "The Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum and Happy Trails Theatre" in Branson, Missouri.

Robin Elizabeth was the only biological child born to Dale. She was born with Down Syndrome and died at two years old and died after contracting mumps.

Roy and Dale adopted Dodie when she was seven months old. She remained out of the spotlight and had one child, Kristin, with her husband.

Mimi was adopted at 13 years old after the couple heard her sing in a children's home. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and returned to Scotland only after having her children.

Debbie was also adopted after she was orphaned during the Korean War. She sadly passed away at the age of 12 following a tragic bus accident.

After being adopted by Roy and Dale, John David was affectionately known as Sandy. Shortly after entering the army, Sandy passed away at 18 years old due to a choking incident in a military hospital stationed in Germany.