RAY "MELVIN" ROGERS, age 82, died Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at the Sunset Cottage in Worthington. He was born on November 27, 1929, to Jake and Tillie (Hiedebrink) Rogers in Worthington, MN. He grew up on the family farm at Reading. He attended school in Reading and graduated from Worthington High School in 1947. He then attended the University of Minnesota and received an associate degree in agriculture in 1949. Melvin started farming in 1949 and retired from farming in 2011.
Melvin was united in marriage to Bonnie Bjornstad on July 27, 1951 at the First United Methodist Church in Worthington.
He was an active member of Bethel Evangelical Presbyterian Church his entire life, serving as an elder, deacon, Sunday school superintendent and trustee. He served on the Reading school board and Cenex board in Rushmore. He was also a member of the Reading senior citizens and the Pinochle Marathon Club. Melvin enjoyed watching his kids and grandkids sporting events, spending time with friends, playing cards, playing fast pitch softball, coaching little league baseball, and going to auctions.
Surviving are his wife, Bonnie Rogers, Wilmont; four children, Terry (Jerry) Clark, Beverly Beach, FL; Craig (Cathy) Rogers, Brandon, SD; Susan (Marc) Shannon, Fargo, ND; Lance Rogers, Reading; fourteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren, Karen (Mike) Aiden, Miles and Owen Brown, Kory (Cindy) Charland, Curtis (Kelly) and Bryson Rogers, Bradley (Emelia) Aliyah and Tate Melvin Rogers, Melissa (Adam), John, Noah and Berea Nicholson, Matthew (Nico) and Layne Rogers, Erin (Grant), Briar and Camden Hansen, Ryan (Anka) and Mira Shannon, Kelly (Ross) Agnello, Nick (fiancé Hannah Bott), Shannon, Chad (Candace), Leita and Meila Davance, Logan, Landon Ray and Shawna Rogers; sisters, Jane Lutner, Worthington; Marilyn (Bob) Koch, Henderson, NV.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Henry, Donald, Myron, and Jim; sisters; Evelyn Warren, Leanna Nelson and Loretta Hodgkinson.