Roger Williams

ABERDEEN- Roger Williams, 71 of Aberdeen and formally of Webster died on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at Avera St. Lukes Hospital in Webster. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, February 2, 2008 at Fiksdal Funeral Chapel in Webster. Rev. Jan FitzGibbon will officiate. Inurnment will be later in the spring at Webster Cemetery with military rites by Herbert McKennett Post 40 American Legion of Webster. There will be no visitation. Roger Ellsworth Williams was born on February 4, 1936 to Hilman and Evelyn (Jacobson) Williams on the family farm in Day County, South Dakota, north of Webster. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Webster. He attended rural District #104 school and then graduated from Webster High School in 1954. He farmed with his brother and father. In August 1956 he married Adeline Buittner at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Webster. After their marriage the couple bought a farm northeast of Webster and farmed until 1959. Then he went to work for Moh’s Furniture, Mortuary and Ambulance service and also worked as a plumber at Peterson & Hay Company. In 1961 he began work at Day County Implement where he was parts manager. On August 23, 1985 he married Helen Hanson at Rapid City. The couple continued to live in Webster. In 1991 they began Lake Area Farm Supply and operated it until 2003. In 2005 they moved to Aberdeen. He was a Lay Reader at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. He was a member of Webster Volunteer Fire Department for 17 years and was a member of the Webster National Guard for several years. In 1969 he was honored by the Webster Jaycees as Clerk of the Year. He was an animal lover and raised exotic birds and his dog, BoBo was always close by his side. He was an avid gardener and raised flowers, he followed the Minnesota Twins and Vikings, and loved to dance the waltzes and taught his granddaughters to dance. He was close to family, had many, many friends, enjoyed people and helped those who were less fortunate. Roger passed away on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at Aberdeen, South Dakota at the age of 71 years, 11 months and 26 days. Survivors include his wife, Helen of Aberdeen; one daughter, Karen (Paul) Johnson of Webster, SD; one son, Michael Williams (Ralf Reuschenbach) of Minneapolis, MN;an adopted daughter, Donna Smith of Widbey Island, WA; two brothers, Harlan Williams of Groton, SD and Leon (Donna) Williams of St. Paul, MN; two sisters, Helen Fry of Aberdeen, SD and Mary Jo (Jim) Burke of Rapid City, SD; three granddaughters, Leslie (J.J.) Anderson of Rapid City, SD, Lynnsey (Chad Sichmeller) Johnson of Webster, SD and Hillary Bouton of Sioux City, IA; and one great granddaughter, Shae Sichmeller of Webster, SD. He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, a daughter, Katherine, two sisters, Betty and June and one brother, Chuck.