Roger Leroy Dosdall, of Prior Lake, passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at the age of 65. A gathering of family and friends is Wednesday, February 11, 2015 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, Prior Lake. A Celebration of Life Service is Thursday, February 12, 2015 at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour prior at Trinity Evangelical Free Church, Lakeville. Reverend Michael Shields will preside. Roger will be laid to rest at Evergreen Point Cemetery in Lakeville. Memorials will be donated to Roger’s favorite charity, Compassion International.
It was a warm summer day in Morris on June 21, 1949 when Glen and Genevieve (Nielsen) Dosdall celebrated the birth of their strong baby boy. Roger was the middle of five children. He loved growing up on the family farm where he developed a strong work ethic. Roger was a talented athlete and was the MVP of his high school football team. He was also active in the FFA throughout high school. He graduated from Cyrus High School in 1967.
After high school, Roger attended the University of Minnesota Morris where he studied chemistry, physics and education. Roger became a high school science teacher. He worked in the Appleton and Prior Lake school districts for a total of 11 years. He later earned his Master’s Degree from the Mankato State University. While he was working as a teacher, his sister Bev suggested he reconnect with an old church friend from back home who was working as a nurse in St. Paul. Roger took Bev’s advice and called up Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Pearson. They had dinner together for their first date and the rest was history. Roger and Beth exchanged wedding vows on August 9, 1975. They were blessed with two wonderful children, Andy and Angela.
Roger and Beth settled in Prior Lake to raise their family. Their kids loved growing up near Cleary Lake Park. As a family they enjoyed taking cross-country road trips. Their travels took them to Mt. Rushmore, Washington D.C., Disney World, the Grand Canyon and many other great places. Roger and Beth enjoyed traveling without the kids too. One of their favorite trips was an Alaskan Cruise. Roger also did a lot of traveling for work. He was the Vice President of Quality & Improvement for Chart Industries in New Prague. His job took him all over the U.S. and abroad. Roger retired in July 2014 after 32 years with the company.
Family and faith were the most important things in Roger’s life. He was a Born Again Christian and was very active in his church. He participated in Bible Studies and taught Sunday School. Roger was also a skilled woodworker. He made walking sticks out of Diamond Willow branches he’d collect from his family farm. He also had a passion for collecting guns, knives and marbles. Roger was a compassionate man with a great sense of humor. He always put others before himself and had a very giving nature.
The morning of Saturday, February 7, 2015 Roger went to be with the Lord. He passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in his home. His loving wife of 39 years was with him. Roger will be deeply missed and remember always by his wife, Beth Dosdall; children, Andy Dosdall and Angela Dosdall; siblings, Beverly (Richard) Boyer, Ray (Chris) Dosdall; mother-in-law, June Pearson; special little friend, Parker Sundvall; other loving relatives and friends. There to greet Roger in Heaven are his parents; brothers, Howard Dosdall and Peter Dosdall; father-in-law, Axel Pearson.
The Dosdall family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation.
