Roger Engelcke
June 1, 1935 ~ December 13, 2018
Roger Neil Engelcke, 83, of Pierre and formerly of Miller, passed away Thursday, December 13, 2018 at Pierre Care and Rehabilitation Center, surrounded by his family.
Memorial service was held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 21, 2018 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Miller with Rev. Max Miller officiating. Burial with military honors followed at G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller.
Roger Neil Engelcke was born in Miller on June 1, 1935, to Adolph and Verna (Rau) Engelcke. He attended school at Miller. After school, Roger worked several jobs until he was drafted into the Army on October 10, 1957 and honorably discharged on September 30, 1959. He returned to Miller where he worked for Hand County until 1962. He went to work for Ree Electric Cooperative as a lineman for 25 years. After his retirement, he worked driving the Senior Citizen bus in Miller for 15 years. He and his wife LaVonne both retired in March of 2002.
In 1957, Roger married LaVonne Luella Fechner at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Miller. They loved camping and cooking out with friends and family. Roger enjoyed fishing while Vonnie curled up with a good book. He was an avid deer hunter and ice fisherman. He thrived on sitting in his deer stand, sitting in the goose pits and going on fishing trips to Canada with his buddies. In his younger days, he enjoyed playing golf and baseball, and was part of the 1950 State Championship Teener Baseball Team. Roger was a “people person”, and he had quite a sense of humor. He loved sharing stories with his grandchildren and buddies. Roger lived in Miller for 78 years until moving to Pierre in 2013.
Roger and LaVonne have three daughters: Pam (Mike) DeReu of Custer, Susan (Todd) Oligmueller of Pierre, and Lori (Duran) Swaney of St. Lawrence; the light of his life were his grandchildren and great grandchildren: Stephanie (Dusty) Harrison and son, Aidan of Sturgis, Brent Swaney of Miller, Tyler Swaney and daughter, Jaiden of Miller/Wessington, Kelsey (Matt) McQuistion and son, Dean of Pierre, Kyle (Galen) DeReu of Minneapolis, Melvin (Tracy) LeVeque of Elkton. (Adopted son of Todd and Susie).
He was preceded in death by his parents, Adolph and Verna Engelcke; his wife, LaVonne Engelcke; daughter, Lori Swaney; and his in-laws Ed and Luella Fechner.
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Roger’s arrangements.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
A wonderful man my deepest sympathy
How saddened we are to learn of Rogers passing. We have many good memories of our neighbors, the Englke’s! May Gods love and grace and your own good memories help ease your loss.
I’m so sorry for your loss, you are all in my thoughts and prayers. I always liked seeing Roger and visiting with him when he used to live in Miller. He was a thoughtful, loving man with a great sense of humor.
Sorry to hear of your loss. Our Deepest Sympathy Dick and Kathy Splichal
To the family of Roger, Very sorry for your loss. I have such fond memories of being at Roger’s house growing up with Kelsey. He always greeted me with a smile and a kind word and welcomed me into his home like family. I also enjoyed having him for coffee at Rexall when I worked there in high school. He always greeted me with, “How ya doing, kid?”
Dearest Susie and Family, My prayers and thoughts are with each of you at this time of sorrow and sadness. I feel so blessed to have met your father! His smile was beautiful, his love for life inspiring, and his kindness endearing! May your daddy’s soul rest in peace. He was a faithful servant of the Lord! May God shine his light upon Roger. <3 Love and hugs to you, Susie & family!
So sorry to hear of Roger’s passing. He was a wonderful man and will be missed by all who knew him. May all the fond memories you have help you though this difficult time. Hugs and prayers to the family.
Sorry to hear of Roger’s passing, although I am sure he is happy to be reunited with LaVonne. My special memory is when he was driving the bus and he took the swing bed residents from the hospital on a little road trip out to Jones Lake and around. My Mom was not with it any longer but was able to go. On the trip she kept a little goofy note on a scrap of paper. After he had returned the residents back to the hospital , he found Mom’s note on the floor of the bus and he kept it until he saw me again and gave it to me. It takes someone special to recognize how much that note meant to me and to make sure I got it.
From our family to your family you have our deepest sympathy for the loss of your Father/grandfather/great-grandfather. he was one of the kindest people that I have ever met and was always happy to sit and talk with you. He was very helpful when he drove the Meals on wheels bus to take Brett Parmely(my son) to and from Hand In Hand Daycare for speech and all that. May the Lord watch over you in this time of grief and be comforted in the fact that he is no longer in pain and he will be watching over your families with love. You will always have the memories of times with Roger and take comfort in knowing that he is with the Lord and his wife once again. Nancy(Parmely), Jim and Aaron Castonguay
I will miss Roger’s laughing. RIP, Roger.
I will miss seeing your smiling face buddy! Rest easy! You will be dearly missed!
Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family
When my husband jimmie passed away Roger called to leave me his condolences that always stayed with me. I have alot of fond memories of Roger & LaYonne at Lake Louise where we all got to together for fishing, boating and of course Horseshoe games. My sympathy to all the family and grandchildren.
To all of Roger’s family, My deepest sympathy to all of you in your loss of father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. I have fond memories of Roger stopping the bus to offer me a ride to work at the beauty shop during the winter when I had no car ( without charging me ). I’m sure he was very happy to see LaVonne and Lori again. I know he must have missed them terribly! May your wonderful memories and the love of God and all your friends bring you comfort and peace. Hugs and prayers. Jan Labor, Huron, SD.
My condolences to Roger’s family. His daughter Lori was in my high school graduating class. I am sure that they are having a joyous reunion. I spent a day or 2 hunting geese with Roger when I was much younger. He was one of the funniest people that I have ever met.
Roger and I were childhood friends and played baseball on a South Dakota State champion team. We also played drums in the Miller South Dakota school band. I couldn't have asked for a better companion.