Roger Ophus

Roger Harry Ophus, 82, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Sunday, February 5, 2012 at the Broen Memorial Home in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He was born August 15, 1929, in Crookston, Minnesota, the son of Harry and Anne (Knudson) Ophus. He spent his growing up years on a farm near Erskine, Minnesota, a farm which is still in the family and is now designated as a Century Farm. He attended country school for seven years, and then the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston graduating in 1945. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on April 3, 1951, serving in Korea and Japan. He was discharged on January 22, 1955. Roger then attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND, graduating in 1958 with a degree in Business Administration. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity at UND. On January 30, 1960, he married Mona Lundmark in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. The couple lived in various locations including Rice Lake and LaCrosse, WI, Minneapolis, MN, Kansas City, MO, Des Moines and Cresco, IA, and Stoughton, WI. They moved to Fergus Falls in 1974. Over the years Roger was employed with the Pillsbury Company and Butler Manufacturing. He was the owner of the Big Chief Café in Fergus Falls, and most recently served as the Executive Director of the local American Red Cross chapter until his retirement. Roger was a lifetime member of the YMCA, VFW and American Legion, as well as Ducks Unlimited. He enjoyed epic road trips with his wife Mona (the Navigator), fishing, lake life, saunas and socializing at the Y, and discourse and debate with any and all takers. Later in life he “discovered” this strange new thing called a computer, and so began his exploration of the wonders of the internet. This allowed him a new way to reach out to old and new friends to continue the debates of life. Roger also loved cooking and he shared this by creating wonderful meals for family and friends at home, at the cabin, and in various hunting and fishing camps across the Northland. Preceding him in death were his parents, and his wife, Mona, in 2008. Survivors include his children, Kurt Ophus of Minneapolis, and Tia (Joe) Scarce of Kirkland, WA; a granddaughter, Kyrie Scarce; and his siblings: Marjorie (Ira) Mjelde of Erskine MN, Fred (Donna) Ophus of Granada Hills CA, and Sandra (John) Delmore of Coon Rapids MN. Memorials are preferred to the Humane Society, the Red Cross, or the Salvation Army. Visitation: One hour prior to the memorial service at the Bigwood Center Memorial Service: 1 p.m. Saturday, February 25, 2012, at the Bigwood Event Center in Fergus Falls Clergy: Reverend David Veum Interment: Rodnes Lutheran Cemetery in Erskine, MN Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls is in charge of the arrangements.