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Roger Steven Kennedy, age 63, died August 24, 2013 in Bloomington, MN. A prayer service is scheduled for Sunday September 1, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Lerud Schuldt Funeral Home in Valley City, ND. A graveside service with military honors will take place at 11:00 am at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Valley City, ND.
Roger was born March 22, 1950 in Detroit Lakes, MN, to Ralph Kennedy and June (Pesola) Kennedy. He lived with his family in Frazee, MN until 1963, when the family moved to Valley City, ND. Roger graduated from St. Catherine’s High School in 1968 and joined the United States Navy in 1968. He served for 4 years and returned to Valley City where he met and married Renee J. Anderson in 1974. Roger and family moved to Grand Forks, ND in 1978 where he attended the University of North Dakota. Roger re-enlisted in the United States Navy in 1982 and served honorably until 2001. Roger met Betty Lou McLaughlin/Mathes while serving in the USN, in Lakehurst, NJ. They were married in 1998. Roger worked as Logistics Management Specialist for Universal Technical Resource Services (UTRS) Inc. in Lakehurst, NJ; Dimensions International Inc. in Alexandria, VA, and NavAir in Solomons, MD. He returned to Fargo, ND in 2008 and lived there until moving to Grand Forks, ND in 2012. In life, Roger was a diehard NASCAR fan and his favorite drivers were Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. He was an avid Fighting Sioux Hockey fan, and an equally strong Minnesota Viking fan. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and a lifetime member of AMVETS. He dedicated most of his free time to these organizations serving as an officer in his VFW post and attending numerous local and national events in support of both organizations.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Kreg and Jessica Kennedy of Roseau, MN; son and daughter-in-law, Kyle and Traci Kennedy of Bloomington, MN; his step-son Billy Mathes, Heights Town, NJ; three granddaughters, Katherine, Elizabeth, and Kaia; and one grandson, Kaison; his brothers Ron Kennedy; David (Dawn) Kennedy; Neil (Judy) Kennedy; Steve (Deb) Kennedy; Paul (Tina) Kennedy; his sisters Carol Dean; Sue (Jerry) Pederson; and Jean (Dave) Schafer. He is also survived by eight nephews and five nieces.
Roger was preceded in death by his father Ralph; mother June; step-father Tony; wife Betty Lou; brother Michael; and his adopted son Kevin.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation in Roger’s memory to the VFW or AMVETS.
Funeral arrangement by the Lerud-Schuldt Funeral Home of Valley City, ND. Online guestbook available at lerudschuldt.com.