"I'm trying to create sources for anyone with challenges, struggles, dips in the road," he says. "We all have things we want to support or accomplish. When it gets tough, that's the stopping point of so many people."

His own big dream is to figure things out financially so that in another decade — he's 46 now — he can retire and serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in Korea as a youth, and he would like to take his acquired life skills into the mission field as an adult, too.

He's never been afraid of jumping in, says younger brother Jim Roy. "He has always done what needed to be done."

When he was a teen and finances were rocky at home for a time, Roy got not one, but two, jobs and turned his wages over to his dad. He kept the tips.

"He's not the kind to say, 'If there's something I can do, let me know,' " says Jim Roy. "A lot of people can't bring themselves to ask. He just shows up, shovel in hand. I admire him immensely."

E-MAIL: lois@desnews.com

Twitter: loisco