Roger Didrikson, 66
Roger Didrikson, 66, of Badger, MN passed away unexpectedly at his home on Monday, May 24th. Funeral services will be held 10:00am Friday, May 28th at Faith Lutheran Church in rural Badger, MN, with a visitation Thursday evening, May 27th at Helgeson Funeral Home from 5:00-7:00PM, with a 7:00 prayer service.
Roger Marvin Didrikson was born July 15, 1954 in Greenbush, MN to Marvin (Donald) and Caroline (nee Lydia-Gustafson) Didrikson. Roger was the fourth of five children, and was raised on the family farm in Nereson Township where he grew up attending Faith Lutheran Church, just down the road from the farm. As the only boy he enjoyed being spoiled but also enjoyed be involved with the farming operation. Many fun times were also spent playing with cousins and neighbors. Roger attended school in Badger through 9th grade, before completing his education at the Southern School of Agriculture in Waseca, MN in 1972. Roger continued his education at the University of Minnesota Technical College – Crookston, before returning home to work alongside his dad and Uncle George Didrikson.
In 1982 Roger met Lynne Halverson at a wedding; after a short engagement, the two were married on November 20, 1982. Roger often had to be reminded of his anniversary, but enjoyed almost 40 years of marriage traveling, fishing, and working on the farm together. Roger and Lynne also raised four children, and he was enjoying being Grandpa to six grandchildren.
The farm was Roger’s love, but you could coax him to reluctantly admit that he did enjoy traveling; however, never to the same place twice. He also enjoyed taking the backroad and many drives around the countryside, tinkering in the shop – especially when it came to welding projects, learning about history and politics, and was an avid reader of a wide variety of materials. Throughout his life he also enjoyed games of softball, cups of coffee with neighbors, and partaking in Scandinavian traditions and holidays.
While you never would have heard him brag, he was proud of his family – his wife Lynne and her work as a doctor, all four of his children as they participated in sports and school activities and continued their educations, and certainly of Thor and Dana returning home to farm. He enjoyed continuing to work with his sons on the farm, and being “helpful” in all the ways only he could be. As a grandpa he enjoyed showing the kids around the farm, holding the babies, and his jelly bean jar was always full!
Roger is survived by his wife Lynne; son Thor (Kelsey) of Roseau, MN daughter Kaydi of Boston, MA; daughter Kirsten of Barre, VT; and son Dana (Michelle) of Badger, MN. Six grandchildren – Jonas, Marley, Elin, & Mose Didrikson and Bennett and Ella Didrikson. Siblings Susan Lisell and Colette Olson, and brother-in-law Donald Lee, all of Roseau, MN; his Aunt Eva Gregerson of Badger, MN; as well as many other cousins and extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Pamela, brother-in-law Galen, and sister Roxann Lee.
