Don Rogers
October 14, 1937 ~ March 17, 2014
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
Don Rogers, 76, of Wessington, died Monday, March 17 at the Good Samaritan Center in Miller. Visitation will be Friday, March 21 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service all at Rembold Funeral Home in St. Lawrence. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 22 at St. John Lutheran Church in Wolsey. Burial will be at the Wessington Cemetery with a luncheon to follow at the Wessington Community Center.
Donald Rogers was born October 14, 1937, to Irving and Edith (Mortensen) Rogers at the Wessington Hospital. He attended Rogers School south of Wessington and graduated from Wessington High School in 1955 where he was very active in athletics.
On May 19, 1957, Donald married Madeleine Letsche at Concordia Lutheran Church in Wessington.
He was drafted and served two years in the U.S. Army assigned to Schoffield Barracks on the Island of Oahu in Wahiawa, Hawaii. From there he traveled to Thailand where he completed jungle training. During the Cuban missile crisis he was put on alert and sat packed into a transport plane on the Hickam Airfield runway awaiting the outbreak of war. Once his service commitment was over, Don and Madeleine moved back to Wessington where he began farming with his father Irving in Wessington in 1961. Later he formed a partnership with his brother Dick, and Rogers brothers operated the family farm and ranch until they retired in 2005.
He loved his family and friends, rarely having a cross word to say about anyone. He loved helping people and extending a hand to those in need. Over the years he served on the Wessington school board, Wessington township board and was a member of the Concordia Lutheran Church as well as the Wessington American Legion for many years. He loved baseball and was the first man to ever hit a home run in the Wessington ball field. He thought every boy should play and sponsored a youth pee wee and midget team in the 1970?s and 80?s. He enjoyed tractors, westerns and visiting with friends over a cold bud light.
He is survived by two sons, Dana (Michele) Rogers of Box Elder, Chris (Stacey Crites) Rogers of Sioux Falls; daughter Kari (Chad) Sargent of Wessington; seven grandchildren, Mikayla Rogers of Gulf Port, MS, Cole Kosmala of Box Elder, Cole and Brooke Sargent of Wessington, Ethan, Javin and Ebony Crites of Sioux Falls; brother Dick (Judy) Rogers of Wessington; sister Norma (Jim) Waring of Ree Heights; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 48 years, Madeleine, youngest son Evan and sister Margaret ?Jody?.
Memorials may be directed to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the American Cancer Society.
Donald Rogers was born October 14, 1937, to Irving and Edith (Mortensen) Rogers at the Wessington Hospital. He attended Rogers School south of Wessington and graduated from Wessington High School in 1955 where he was very active in athletics.
On May 19, 1957, Donald married Madeleine Letsche at Concordia Lutheran Church in Wessington.
He was drafted and served two years in the U.S. Army assigned to Schoffield Barracks on the Island of Oahu in Wahiawa, Hawaii. From there he traveled to Thailand where he completed jungle training. During the Cuban missile crisis he was put on alert and sat packed into a transport plane on the Hickam Airfield runway awaiting the outbreak of war. Once his service commitment was over, Don and Madeleine moved back to Wessington where he began farming with his father Irving in Wessington in 1961. Later he formed a partnership with his brother Dick, and Rogers brothers operated the family farm and ranch until they retired in 2005.
He loved his family and friends, rarely having a cross word to say about anyone. He loved helping people and extending a hand to those in need. Over the years he served on the Wessington school board, Wessington township board and was a member of the Concordia Lutheran Church as well as the Wessington American Legion for many years. He loved baseball and was the first man to ever hit a home run in the Wessington ball field. He thought every boy should play and sponsored a youth pee wee and midget team in the 1970?s and 80?s. He enjoyed tractors, westerns and visiting with friends over a cold bud light.
He is survived by two sons, Dana (Michele) Rogers of Box Elder, Chris (Stacey Crites) Rogers of Sioux Falls; daughter Kari (Chad) Sargent of Wessington; seven grandchildren, Mikayla Rogers of Gulf Port, MS, Cole Kosmala of Box Elder, Cole and Brooke Sargent of Wessington, Ethan, Javin and Ebony Crites of Sioux Falls; brother Dick (Judy) Rogers of Wessington; sister Norma (Jim) Waring of Ree Heights; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 48 years, Madeleine, youngest son Evan and sister Margaret ?Jody?.
Memorials may be directed to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the American Cancer Society.
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One of the gentler giants on this earth…I will cherish his hugs and kind words to me forever..
I will truly miss my second dad! What a loving man who will be truly missed by everyone. God bless the family and praying for everyone. Love you all
So sorry for your loss. Don will truly be missed.
Sorry to hear the news about your father, grandfather, passing but he is in a good place now and just maybe he and some of his friends can play some baseball for the Good Lord up above.
Prayers and thoughts are with you and your families
Katherine Splichal
The Rogers families will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Mary Davenport, Zach & Erik Wuestewald
Thoughts and prayers are with you. He will be missed
Our heart’s are sad. Our prayers go out to the family. Don was good friend and will be missed by many.
Truly enjoyed pheasant hunting with Don for many years. Not only a great host in always making us feel welcome but also a great hunting friend. Shared many shots, birds & laughs with him. May he find peace & love eternally in the fields of heaven.
He was a dear friend of my father and since my dad has been very sick had me look him up because he tried calling him today. He tells stories today from their service years. He sends his condolences to your family and is upset of his passing. Tim Robinette Coeburn Va.