Service of music and remembrance for Roger Svebakken will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 28, 2018, at the Cherry Grove United Methodist Church in Cherry Grove, Minn., with the Rev. Ken Kimball officiating. Visitation will follow the service until 6 p.m. at the church. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 29, 2018, at the Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in Waukon, Iowa, with Rev. Ken Kimball officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Saturday.
Roger Svebakken, age 83, of Spring Valley and formerly of Waukon, passed away Sunday, December 23, 2018, at Spring Valley Living Care Center.
Roger was born July 8, 1935, to Clarence and Doris (Davis) Svebakken in Waukon, Iowa. He graduated from school in Waukon, where he excelled in high school sports, especially baseball, where he held a batting average of 700+. Roger served in the Army’s 82nd Airborne, where he played on the Army baseball team. After his discharge from the Army, Roger started roping in local rodeos, where he was very successful. On June 8, 1967, he was united in marriage to Llonamae Smith in Mauston, Wis., and together they raised and showed registered Quarter Horses. They had two very successful winning horses on quarter horse tracks across the eastern United States. Roger loved music and sang at weddings, funerals, nursing homes and especially enjoyed performing at Cowboy Churches.
Roger is survived by his wife of 51 years, Lonamae Svebakken of Spring Valley, Minn., two nephews: Bill (Cindy) Thias and Greg (Norma) Smith, and two nieces: Wendy (Leo) Gansen and DeAnne Norman. He is also survived by cousins, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Doris; a sister, Janet Thias; and a brother-in-law, Gene Thias.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in Waukon, Iowa, or to the Cherry Grove Cowboy Church.
Condolences may be left at www.Hindtfuneralhomes.com.