Roger Dean Bertelsen

Roger Bertelsen, 84, of Mason City, IA, died Wednesday, October 7, 2015, at the Good Shepherd Health Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 10, 2015, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, with Pastor Rhea Evanson of St. Paul Lutheran Church – Thornton, IA officiating. Interment will take place at the Hillside Cemetery in Sheffield, IA with Military Honors conducted by the Mason City Veterans Association. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be directed to the Roger Bertelsen memorial fund in care of the family.

Roger was born April 27, 1931, at the family farm in rural Thornton, the son of Edward and Clara (Rodemeyer) Bertelsen. He graduated from Thornton High School in 1949, before being drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps in 1951. Roger proudly served his country during the Korean War before his honorable discharge in 1953. On August 24, 1957, Roger married Donna Harms at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Mason City. Roger was passionate about farming. He enjoyed playing cards, morning coffee at McDonalds, Las Vegas Casino trips, cheering for the Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Vikings, watching the Big Joe Polka Show and Hee Haw. He was very proud of his grandsons and loved showing his support during school sporting events. Roger was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and the Thornton American Legion.

Roger is survived by his wife of 58 years: Donna Bertelsen of Mason City; 3 children: Debbie Kelley and husband Dave of Sheffield, Jeff Bertelsen of Des Moines, IA, and Scott Bertelsen of Forest City, IA; 5 grandsons: Jamie Kelley and wife Heidi of Algona, IA, Brian Kelley and wife Amber of Urbandale, IA, Chad Kelley and wife Amber of Pleasant Hill, IA, Eric Bertelsen and wife Tori of Cedar Falls, IA, and Joshua Bertelsen and special friend Holly Hallman of Des Moines; 6 great grandchildren: Mason, Brody, Isla, Micah, Lillian and Tatum Kelley; brothers: Randy Bertelsen and wife Lori of Mason City and Quentin Bertelsen of Mason City; sisters: Loraine Barkhurst of TX and Janet VanEvery and husband Don of CA; and sister-in-law: Barbara Bertelsen of CA. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother: Eddie Bertelsen; sister: Roma Bartling; brother-in-law: Varian Barkhurst; and sister-in-law: Marilyn Bertelsen.