Roger Norman Etrheim
October 21, 1936 ~ January 15, 2014
Roger Norman Etrheim, 77, Sioux Falls, passed from this life on Wednesday, January 15, 2014, at the Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls after a short battle with cancer.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00PM, Saturday, January 18, 2014, at the Jasper Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jasper, MN, with Pastor Obed Nelson officiating. Inurnment will be at the Jasper City Cemetery.
Roger Norman Etrheim was born October 21, 1936, to Sven and Randy (Gjerde) Etrheim in Tyler, MN. He was raised and educated in the local area and graduated from Jasper High School. He met and married his high school sweetheart, Jeanette Rislov, in Jasper, MN. Roger and Jeanette were married for 56 years.
When they were first married, Roger was serving in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Paris, France. When his military service ended, the couple moved to Mankato, MN, where he attended college and worked at the local foundry to support his family. Following graduation, Roger worked a few odd jobs until he landed a corporate position with Texaco and moved to Iowa. After many years with Texaco, Roger moved on, and toward the end of his professional career took a position with, and eventually retired from, the Iowa Corn Board. Roger was instrumental in the marketing of ethanol use in gasoline.
Upon retirement, the couple moved to Bella Vista, AR, where they spent 17 years before returning to Sioux Falls in April 2013 to be closer to family. Their years in retirement were filled with golf, traveling, card clubs, church and any other opportunities to be social. Roger loved working at his church’s food-pantry and greeting all the children on Sunday mornings. Roger continued to volunteer his time throughout his retirement years. This included his time at the nursing home, where he would push a neighbor to the dining room for meals, even though he was in a wheelchair himself.
Roger is survived by two children, Brenda Etrheim, Des Moines, IA, and David (Dede) Etrheim, New Braunfels, TX, three grandchildren, Erick (Alissa) Etrheim, Kyle Etrheim, and Peter McDermott, and two brothers, Donald and Harold Etrheim, both of Jasper MN.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, James Etrheim; his sister, Beverly Radi; and his beloved wife, Jeanette. May God bless his memory, which will continue to live on in all those who knew and loved him.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Jasper Evangelical Lutheran Church or the Christ the King Church Food Pantry in Rogers, AR.
My sympathies to the family from a cousin.
My families deepest sympathy, unfortunately we are taking our youngest 2 back to college this weekend and will not make the funeral. I will miss seeing you all again, take care David and Brenda.
We are wintering in Texas and will not be able to be at roger’s funeral. OUR thoughts will be there. Roger was a good class mate and friend.
We will keep his family in our prayers.
Dale and Rosalee Facile
My sympathy goes out to David and Brenda at the loss of both of their parents. I am a classmate of Jeanette and Rogers and have many fond memories of our days at Jasper High and also too few visits after graduation. I am so happy they are once again together with our Lord and will remember them in my prayers. Marilyn
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Etrheim family. Roger is joining his love of his life in heaven. Another Angel to watch over his children and grandchildren. God Bless!
Dear Etrheim Family, I am so saddened to hear of Roger’s death. He was a wonderful person always giving back to others. Now he is with Jeanette. My sincere sympathy.
I caught the obituary in the Des Moines Register this morning. Roger was the Texaco representative calling on us at our Texaco station in Ogden, Iowa for several years. We enjoyed his company and the assistance he furnished. Roger joined us on a Saturday in 1964 when we had our station’s 40th anniversary and worked along with the rest of the crew. My sympathies to all of the family members.
Dear David, Dede, Brenda and families. You have been most fortunate to have had two wonderful parents and we were most fortunate to have known them as our friends. We have many good memories with your folks in Des Moines and then our overnight stops in Bella Vista over the years. Little by little as we grieve for loved ones, we begin to remember not just that they died, but that they lived – and made a difference. Our thoughts and prayers are with each of you. The weather report is not good for Saturday so waiting to see if we will make the trip to Jasper. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with each of you. Jim and Jan
I remember Roger being a very kind and generous person who I enjoyed working with during his days with the Iowa Corn Growers. My sincere sympathy to his family.
Our condolences to the Etrheim family. May God comfort you during this sad time and know he’s in a much better place and at peace.
My prayers are with the Etrheim family. I worked with Roger in the pioneering days of ethanol fuels. His enthusiasm, drive and yet friendly spirit was contagious for everyone around him. He made the world a better place. We miss him.
David and Brenda – I am so sorry to hear about your dad’s passing. Ron and I spent a lot of time with him and your mom and were good friends for over 40 years. They were both wonderful, generous, giving people. I miss them both, but know they are together with our Lord in Heaven. You and your families have my deepest sympathies.
I was saddened to hear of Roger’s passing. I’m so glad that I got to talk to Roger just before Christmas. At that time he sounded like his old self, so cheery. Jeannette and Rogers are dear friends of mine from days in Jasper. I will miss our infrequent phone calls. My deepest sympathy to your family.
Thanks for the memories, Roger. Our condolences to your family from all of us.
So sad to hear of Roger’s passing. My deepest sympathy to the Etrheim family in the loss of both their parents and grandparents. Roger and Jeanette were classmates and I have many good memories of school days and visits through the years. God be with you all with His comfort and love.