Roger Lee Erickson, Jr.

Roger Lee Erickson, Jr passed peacefully on Friday, December 27, 2024, at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A funeral service will be held Tuesday, December 31, at 2:30 PM at Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley, Iowa with Rev. J.J. Witvoet officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. Visitation with the family present will be held prior to the service from 1:00-2:00 PM at the funeral home 

  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to Roger’s family.

  Roger was born November 30, 1961, the 3rd of 15 children born to Roger and Dena (Rozeboom) Erickson. Roger was raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for a few years until the family moved to the Inwood, Iowa area. He attended West Lyon High School. He married Kathy Schoen in July of 2000. 

  Roger was a hard worker, who never missed a day of work. He was a farmer all his life. He could drive, run or fix any piece of machinery known to man. Roger didn’t believe in a “day off”. If he wasn’t working on the farm, he was building, fabricating or busy doing something, usually for someone else. He was the first to offer help when anyone was in need. The only time he wasn’t working was when he was spending time with his grandkids or family. Family was very important to Roger, and he and Kathy often took in over 10 grandchildren and various children when they fell upon hard times. When he did have a spare moment, he enjoyed riding motorcycles and snowmobiles. 

  Roger is survived by his mother, Dena; his wife of 24 years, Kathy; 6 children, Kelsy Erickson and special friend Kyle of Des Moines, Iowa, Katelyn Erickson of West Point, Nebraska, Kyle Erickson of Ireton, Iowa, Jennifer Williams of Ireton, Iowa, Stephanie (Mark) Whiddon of Le Mars, Iowa and Josh Williams of Ireton, Iowa; 13 brothers and sisters, Deanna Hamlin of Springfield, Minnesota, Cindy (Jim) Merritt of Inwood, Iowa, Deb (Stuart) Even of Brookings, South Dakota, Rita (Doug) Nemmers of Le Mars, Iowa, Janice (Jody) Farmer of Orange City, Iowa, Kay (Gary) Van Veldhuizen of Doon, Iowa, Mark (Brenda) Erickson of Sioux Center, Iowa, Tim (Cindy Lou) Erickson of Doon, Iowa, Denise Van Otterloo of Farmington, Arkansas, Danita (Mike) Mantel of Doon, Iowa, Dave Erickson of George, Iowa, Phil (Tichelle) Erickson of Rock Rapids, Iowa and Rachael (Joe) Vande Stouwe of Sioux Center, Iowa; numerous brothers and sisters-in law; many nieces and nephews; 19 grandchildren; and 1 great grandchild. 

  Roger was preceded in death by his father, Roger Erickson; brother, Paul Erickson, son, Justin Erickson; brothers-in-law, Cary Smit and Doug Hamlin; and a nephew, Jeremy Merritt.