Roger Everett Emerson, 82
Roger Everett Emerson, 82, passed away Saturday, Aug. 12, 2006, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center after an automobile accident, which occurred Aug. 5 near Bigfork.
He was born March 26, 1924, one of fraternal twin boys - Roger and Rodney. His parents were Minot and Olga (Lurass) Emerson, who were dairy farmers near Cottage Grove, Wis.
He was one of six children. His brothers and sisters were Reuben, Merlyn, Rodney, Ione and Alta.
As a child, he worked on the farm with his brothers and sisters, milking cows and doing chores. From the time he was a little boy, Roger loved and followed the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. He followed the team's progress all his life.
Roger graduated from Stoughton High School in Stoughton, Wis. He loved math and could do complicated calculations in his head.
Roger dreamed of going to college to become a journalist, but when World War II broke out, he enlisted immediately in the U.S. Navy. He became a radioman and served on the USS Minneapolis. He saw much battle experience in the Pacific Ocean. He served at the battle of Leyte Gulf and the battle of Mindanao, and was awarded the Bronze Star plus good conduct, Asiatic-Pacific and Philippine Liberation medals. During the war, he sent many radio messages, including some for Admirals William Halsey and Chester Nimitz.
After the war, Roger met his future wife, Doris Janet Jenni, at a dance. He was an excellent dancer and loved to dance. They were married Aug. 11, 1946. They moved to California, settling in the San Jose area. Roger opened a grocery store called the Round Corner Market. Roger was an inventor all his life, and while in California, he invented a grocery cart for stocking grocery shelves.
While in California, Roger and Doris had four children: Renee, Toni, John and Nels. They became worried about continuing life in California because of the drugs prevalent in the schools. They moved to the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project in eastern Washington in 1959 where they developed a successful farming operation. Roger grew potatoes, sugar beets, wheat, peas, beans and alfalfa seed. He loved the challenge of farming and worked very hard to develop his business.
Roger and Doris parted in the late 1980s, and Roger moved to Bigfork. He had fallen in love with the area on earlier trips to purchase potato seed.
Later, he fell in love in Marge Mathison, who also lived in the Bigfork area, and they lived together there until their passing last week.
Roger and Marge had many happy times with their friends both here and in Palm Springs, where they spent the winters. They both loved dancing, and they loved helping and supporting their friends and families. They loved playing cribbage, and Roger enjoyed playing cribbage each morning with his friends at Lake Hills IGA.
Roger was funny, he was smart and he loved life.
He is survived by his children: Renee Emerson of Edina, Minn., Toni Emerson of Seattle, John Emerson (Patty) of Cheney, Wash., and Nels Emerson (JoAnn) of Othello, Wash.
He is also survived by his sister Merlyn Graffin of Cottage Grove, Wis., and his sister Alta Kottwitz (Gordon) of Lake Mills, Wis.
Also, he as survived by six grandchildren, Clea, Joseph, Jennifer, Micah, Matthew and Dallas, as well as many loved and much-valued friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Reuben and Rodney, and his sister Ione. He was also preceded in death by his beloved companion, Marge Mathison.
A memorial service will be held in combination with the memorial service for Marjorie Mathison at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, at Bethany Lutheran Church, 8559 Montana Highway 35, in Bigfork.
A reception will be afterward at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 3550 Mullan Road, Suite 105, Missoula, Montana, 59808. The family suggests that people write down and bring a short simple remembrance of Roger to be included in a memory book.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for the family.