Roger was born on December 12, 1952, to Theodore and Ada (Meyer) Schmidt, at St. Cloud Hospital, weighing in at 3 lbs 2 oz. After seven weeks in the incubator, he went home to the family farm in Fairhaven, Minn.
He attended the one room schoolhouse in Fairhaven. Then went on to Kimball, where he graduated in 1970.
On March 1, 1975, Roger married Peggy Karie at Concordia Church in Fairhaven. They lived in Fairhaven for a short time, then onto Champlin, where Roger started his trucking career. They settled in Elk River, where they spent the next 40 plus years, raising three wonderful children, Jeremy, Shaun and Jillian. In 2022, they moved to Annandale, where Roger worked as a substitute Janitor at the school, helped with Dusty’s Dock service and a Maintenance man at the Cottages, what he called “Dingmann’s holding pen.”
Roger passed away on June 22, 2026, after a yearlong battle with two kinds of cancer. He fought hard with many ups and downs until he just couldn’t endure any more.
Roger was a dedicated husband, a loving father and a doting grandfather. He was known for his generous spirit, funny lighthearted personality, and his caring ways to everyone he met and befriended. He loved helping people, visiting, fixing things, going up north, fishing, hunting and playing with the grandchildren.
Roger is survived by his wife, Peggy, son Jeremy (Candice), son Shaun (Janelle), and daughter Jillian (James).
His legacy will continue through his beloved grandchildren, Presley, Gavin, Parker, Levi and Ella. Also, he is survived by his brother Ron; sisters-in-law Brenda Nicka, Marlys Schmidt, Dolly Schmidt, Wanda Schmidt; and brother-in-law John Nicka, and many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Ada Schmidt; brothers, Chester, Howard, Darrel, Delmer and Kenny; nephews, Tom, Rollie and Blane; niece, Jackie.
A Celebration of Life will be held on a future date.
All who knew and loved Roger are encouraged to share memories and upload photos to his memorial page on Minnesota Cremation Services. His life was filled with love, laughter and accomplishments, all of which deserve to be remembered and celebrated.