Roger Seeley, 72, of Chester died at his home Thursday, March 5, 2015. Funeral services will begin at 10:00 AM Saturday, March 14, 2015 at Chester Area High School. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, rural Chester. Visitation will begin at 3:00 PM with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Friday, March 13, 2015 at Minnehaha Funeral Home in Dell Rapids. Condolences may be left at www.minnehahafuneralhome.com
Roger was born May 20, 1942 to Bill and Anna Mae Seeley in Chester, SD where he spent his life serving customers and community. He grew up working with his parents and brother farming, harvesting, and trucking across the region. Roger married Karen Berven on September 13, 1961. He continued a trucking business until joining Lidel Construction in 1963. In 1968, he was a founding partner in the Chester Farm Service. In 1978, he started his 30 year service to hundreds of customers delivering fuel and oil with the familiar red F&M truck. Not one for retirement, Roger started hauling loads with pick-up and trailer across the country after his cancer diagnosis in 2007. At 70 years old he received a patent for a trailer design.
For more than 45 years, Roger was a volunteer fireman serving as chief and president of the Chester Fire Protection District. He was a member of the Madison Elks Lodge for 40 years and a lifelong member of the Chester United Methodist Church.
Roger is survived by his wife of 53 years, Karen; two daughters, Dawn (Mark) Aspaas, Sioux Falls and Julie (Mark) Steffen, Tea; son, Darin (Andrea) Seeley of Piedmont, eight grandchildren, Liza Gaspar, Sioux Falls, Doug (Heather) Gaspar, Garretson, Desirae (Nick) Adams, Shawnee, KS, Bryce Steffen, Tea, Mara and Will Seeley, Piedmont, Andy (Lyndsey) Aspaas, Centerville,MN and Mahli Aspaas, Sioux Falls; seven great-grandchildren, Autumn, Mason, Will, Colton, Daxton, Theodore and Reece; brother, Jack, Orange, CA and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. His mother, Mae passed away Friday, March 6, 2015. Roger was preceded in death by his father, Bill.
Roger never met a stranger, was quick with a smile, and had friends spread far and wide.