Roger Vaagen
July 28, 1947 ~ November 23, 2016
Roger O. Vaagen, 69, Fargo passed away Wednesday, November 23, 2016.
Roger was born July 28, 1947 in Minot, North Dakota to Orville and Ruth (Elberg) Vaagen. He graduated from Lansford High School in 1965 and went to Minot State College where he graduated with his teaching certificate. Roger moved to Fargo in 1972 and worked at St. Luke’s Hospital. He completed the nursing program at St. Luke’s School of Nursing and nurse of anesthesia at St. Luke’s School of Anesthesia. Roger was a certified registered nurse anesthetist and he spent the majority of his working career with MeritCare/Sanford, retiring in 2013.
He is survived by his siblings; Sherry (Warren) Hight, Maple Grove, MN, Carolyn (John) Anderson, Fargo, ND, 2 nieces; Laura Hight, Maple Grove, MN, Sarah (Nate) Croce, New Hope, MN, 2 nephews; Jason Hight, Scottsdale, AZ, Tony (Jill) Anderson, Parker, CO, 2 great-nephews, Mark and Matthew Anderson and 1 great-niece, Amelia Croce.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Joy Anne Vaagen.
Memorial Service: 2:00 P.M. Saturday, December 3, 2016 at Boulger Funeral Home & Celebration of Life Center, Fargo with visitation starting at 1:00 P.M.
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Great Memories !! RIP Roger !! Kim Nerby
Roger was a good friend of ours. I met him at Minot state college back in 1967 or 1968. We stayed friends and kept in touch throughout life. Roger was in our wedding party back in 1972. We lived in an old farm house in 1972 and visited Orville and Ruth at their farm up by Glenburn. We caught Orville’s rainbow trout out of the stock pond one winter.
He was there for us when Mom died in 2011. Roger found us and kept us company during that week.
I had driven to Fargo on thanksgiving 2014 just to see him. He was feeling pretty good and had recovered from a previous surgery.
When his cancer came back this summer he called and we talked all about this new problem. We talked for a couple of months.
We’re both going to miss Roger.
Roger was a friend, a mentor, and a role model. He has been missed at Sanford anesthesia since his retirement and now I will also miss him in my life. RIP Roger hope heaven is full of good wine/beer and friends!
I was sorry to read about Roger’s passing. We were in the class of 65 and I have only good memories of him. My condolence to his family. Rest in Peace Roger..
Roger will be remembered in many positive ways! I remember the days in the Cardiac Intensive Care unit, we were both young RN’s caring for patients at what was then St. Lukes Hopital! Rest in peace Roger! Your shift is over, but you will be remembered!
Marie and I were so sorry to hear about Roger’s passing. We went to school in Lansford with Roger, and he and I were classmates. I will always remember his uplifting attitude–always happy and never an unkind word about anyone. He loved the craft beers, and brought some to our reunion a few years ago, and it was shared by all the classmates. Rest in Peace Roger–Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I was blessed to know and work with Roger at Meritcare and then Sanford. He would seek out those he knew when he would stop by to say hi. I will forever cherish our conversations. Rest dear friend. Your in God’s care now.
I enjoyed getting to know Roger over a few dinners with my mother Kathy and Arlin. Am sorry to hear of Roger’s passing. Keeping Roger’s family and friends in my prayers.
Our sympathy to Sherry and Carolyn and your families…
So sorry to hear of Roger’s passing. We go way back to when I was in the Air Force in No.Dak. when I met Roger through a friend of his In the 60’s. When ever we returned to Minot to visit my wives family he would always make plans to come visit even if he had to drive from Fargo. We Will miss this longtime friend. Prayers to the family for your loss. Dennis & Lorayne Slaga
So sorry to hear about Rogers death. I worked with Roger many years ago at Meritcare/Sanford. He was a kind, gentle man. The last time I saw him was in the nursing home when I was visiting another resident. May he rest in peace.
Roger was my neighbor for 18 years and I will miss him.
Roger was a true gentle man! He and my younger brother, Rollie Ahmann, were best friends through the years since they were little boys. Our parents were also good friends. In recent years, when Roger visited Arizona, he always requested that Rollie bring him to see me. That meant a great deal to me and we invariably had a great visit. Thank you for being so good to your brother, Carolyn! Rest in peace, my dear Roger.
Dan met Roger while attending Minot State, and their friendship spanned 50 years. When Patty met Dan’s friend “Roger”, she thought his last name sounded familiar. It turns out it’s a small world…..Roger’s dad, Orville, worked for Patty’s grandfather (Ole Lee) on the farm near Carpio many, many years ago and Ruth was Patty’s mom’s first grade teacher! Those long-ago relationships were rekindled as Patty accompanied Roger and his parents to many Twins games in Minneapolis. They all really loved watching the Twins! Wherever we lived….Garrison, Phoenix, Minneapolis, and back to Arizona…Roger would take the time to come to see us. We especially enjoyed the time he would spend with us in the spring when traveling to Phoenix for the C.N.A. conference. He would take extra vacation time and whether it was just visiting around the kitchen table, searching out a new local brewery, or seeing some of Arizona’s sites, those are all memories we will cherish. He truly cared about our families….asking how the kids and grandkids were doing, as well as our parents. We were recently in Bismarck to visit Dan’s mother, and we drove to see Roger in the nursing home on Nov. 5th. The visit was bittersweet, as we could tell Roger was more ill than we had previously thought, but our time with him that day was precious. We had a good visit, and were definitely blessed to have spent that afternoon with him.
Roger had a very big heart….he gave generously, he cared deeply, and he will be missed by many..
I met Roger at the Farmers Union All-States camp in Bailey, Colorado in 1965. Later that year, I visited Roger and his family in Lansford. Sometimes we got together for lunch when he came to Wisconsin to see relatives. Although we initially shared an interest in agriculture, our later letters, calls and emails usually ended up in political discussions. Often he would call when driving between Fargo and his farm and we talked about the issues of the world. Before Roger’s illness, we met at the Gathering of the Orange (Allis Chalmers) shows in Hutchinson, MN to view and discuss the vintage equipment. Of course a great dinner and a few beers were necessary to complete the day. Roger was a very interesting man with with a keen mind. He held strong opinions and support for the average working man. I will miss him and those wide ranging discussions. Roger, may you rest in peace. Donald Gullikson, Iola, Wisconsin.
It was my privilege to work beside Roger for many years at Sanford. He was kind, helpful, funny, insightful, and most of all just a great co-worker. I will miss him.